Navi Mumbai, Oct 31 (NationPress) BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia expressed his admiration following India's remarkable five-wicket triumph over Australia in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup semifinal, deeming it a pivotal moment for women's cricket in India.

“What a fantastic victory! Did you catch the match? It was exhilarating! This win is tremendously significant for India — it will elevate our women’s cricket to unprecedented heights. Best wishes to them for the final!” Saikia remarked to IANS shortly after India successfully chased down a daunting 339 to unseat the reigning champions and secure a spot in Sunday’s final against South Africa.

Jemimah Rodrigues delivered a stunning performance, scoring an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls, inclusive of 14 fours — marking her first World Cup century and arguably the most pivotal innings of her career — as India reached 341 for 5 in just 48.3 overs.

Captain Harmanpreet Kaur played a phenomenal supporting role, smashing 89 off 88 balls, with the duo establishing a record 167-run partnership for the third wicket that dramatically shifted the momentum of the game after a shaky start.

In pursuit of 339, India faced early challenges. Shafali Verma, who stepped in as a last-minute substitute for the injured Pratika Rawal, managed only six balls for 10 runs before getting out. Smriti Mandhana also fell soon after for a run-a-ball 24. With India at 47 for 2, they seemed to be in trouble, but Rodrigues and Harmanpreet steadied the innings with poise and flair.

Jemimah exhibited superb timing, blending elegant stroke-play with smart running. She reached her fifty in 57 balls with eight fours, showcasing delightful cuts, drives, and sweeps. A scoop off Garth, crisp boundaries against Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux, along with a deft late cut through the point, highlighted her confidence.

Harmanpreet complemented her spectacularly, reaching her half-century in 65 balls and accelerating with a mix of powerful boundaries and two massive sixes as India kept pace with Australia’s scoring rate through the middle overs.

Former India captain and BCCI President Sourav Ganguly described it as “incredible stuff.”

“Incredible stuff from the girls... they have developed so much in the past five years... One more to go... truly outstanding,” Ganguly posted on X.

IPL Chairman Arun Dhumal called it a “remarkable win” and acknowledged BCCI's unwavering support for the women's team.

“Remarkable win by our girls! Wishing them all the best for the final. This success is a testament to BCCI's ongoing commitment to enhancing women’s cricket, alongside the steadfast support from former BCCI Secretary and now ICC Chairman Jay Shah, who believed in the potential of women’s cricket in India,” IPL chairman Arun Dhumal told IANS.

BCCI vice-president Rajiv Shukla congratulated the team on their spectacular victory.

“Congratulations to the Indian Women’s Team on a magnificent win over Australia to reach the Women’s World Cup final. Exceptional century by Jemimah Rodrigues and outstanding leadership & innings from Harmanpreet Kaur. A proud moment for Indian cricket,” Shukla shared in his post on X.

Numerous other administrators and both current and former cricketers took to social media to celebrate this historic victory and commend the team for their exceptional performance.