How World Cup win changed women’s cricket in India: Jemimah Rodrigues explains
Jemimah Rodrigues has shared how India’s Women’s World Cup win has transformed women’s cricket in the country. In November 2025, India claimed the title by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in front of a packed crowd in Navi Mumbai. The victory was expected to be a watershed moment for Indian women’s cricket, similar to the 1983 World Cup win for the men.
Jemimah, who scored 292 runs in the tournament from seven innings, reflected on the impact of the triumph, noting how it has inspired a surge of young cricketers, both girls and boys, and elevated recognition and admiration for female players.
“I think the biggest change has been the number of kids inspired to take up cricket after the Women’s World Cup. And I’m not just talking about girls, even boys have come up and said, ‘You are my favourite cricketer.’ That’s a very special moment because we didn’t have that before. To see that change is crazy,” Jemimah told Sports Today.
Jemimah emphasised that while the full impact of the win may not be immediately clear, its influence will become more evident in the coming years, establishing a lasting legacy for women’s cricket in India.
“We may not fully understand it now, but I think in a few years, when we look back at this moment, we’ll properly realise the kind of impact this World Cup has had,” Jemimah said.
‘LOT MORE TO DO’
Jemimah was thrilled after India secured a 2-1 T20I series win in Australia, their first on Australian soil in 10 years since 2016. She said the victory was crucial ahead of the Women’s T20 World Cup, while also emphasising the need to refine certain aspects of their game and develop a consistent winning habit.
“It is very important because we’re heading into a T20 World Cup, and we know how competitive Australia always are against us. It felt really good, but we also know the work doesn’t stop here. There’s still a lot more to do and several areas we need to improve. We’ve spoken about making winning a habit, and that’s what we’re working towards,” Jemimah added.
Following their win in Australia, India will travel to South Africa to play five T20Is from April 17 to 27 across Durban, Johannesburg, and Benoni.
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