Cricket legends react: Tendulkar, Sehwag, De Villiers hail India’s ‘fabulous’ World Cup Semifinal win

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar led the chorus of praise after India’s women’s team pulled off a stunning record-breaking chase to beat defending champions Australia and storm into the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Powered by a century for the ages from Jemimah Rodrigues (127 off 134) and a captain’s knock of 89 off 88 by Harmanpreet Kaur, India chased down a mammoth 339-run target — the highest successful chase in Women’s World Cup history — to seal a five-wicket win and book a date with South Africa in Sunday’s final.
Tendulkar hailed the victory as “fabulous”, writing on X: “Fabulous victory! Well done @JemiRodrigues and @ImHarmanpreet for leading from the front. Shree Charani and @Deepti_Sharma06, you kept the game alive with the ball. Keep the tricolour flying high.”
India’s chase began shakily at 47 for 2 after the early exits of Shafali Verma (10) and Smriti Mandhana (24), but Jemimah and Harmanpreet turned the tide with a majestic 167-run third-wicket stand that combined composure, precision, and belief.
“A match full of heart, fight and belief. Congratulations to our Indian women’s team for making it to the finals,” wrote Rishabh Pant, echoing the nation’s sentiment.
Even former South African great AB de Villiers couldn’t hold back his admiration, posting:
“Incredible chase by #TeamIndia to knock out the Aussies and end their win streak. Just the perfect chase against the mightiest of oppositions. Congratulations! It’s India v Proteas in the #CWC25Final once again — and we will have a new Champion.”
Meanwhile, according to IANS report, former India opener Virender Sehwag praised the Indian women’s team for their fearless performance after they stunned defending champions Australia to storm into the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup final with a record chase at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.
Sehwag hailed the performance, saying India’s women “turned a semi-final into a dhamaka,” while Rishabh Pant called it “a match full of heart, fight and belief.” AB de Villiers described it as “an incredible chase to knock out the Aussies.”
“Australia soch rahi thi ek aur semi-final hai, aaram se jeeto aur pahuncho Final- hamari ladkiyon ne socha yeh to mauka hai asli dhamaka karne ka! Saare criticism ko dho daala. Kya khel dikhaya. Proud of our women in blue,” Sehwag posted on X
Rodrigues, playing one of the finest innings of her career, remained unbeaten on 127 off 134 balls (14×4), while Harmanpreet’s 88-ball 89 (10×4, 2×6) provided the perfect foil. The pair added 167 runs for the third wicket to rescue India from 47 for 2 after early blows to Shafali Verma (10) and Smriti Mandhana (24). Kim Garth’s fiery spell (2-29) had put Australia in control before Jemimah and Harmanpreet rebuilt the innings with calm assurance and supreme timing.
Her innings, which included moments of grace and grit, was backed by captain Harmanpreet’s composure and intent. The Indian skipper reached her fifty off 65 balls, building momentum before launching a flurry of boundaries. Their partnership steadied India’s nerves, matching Australia’s tempo — at 30 overs, India’s 189/2 mirrored Australia’s 193/2. When Harmanpreet fell to Ashleigh Gardner off Annabel Sutherland for 89, Jemimah ensured the chase stayed on track.
Earlier, Australia’s innings was built on Phoebe Litchfield’s superb 117 off 93 balls, supported by Ellyse Perry (77) and Ashleigh Gardner (63). The defending champions were 265/5 in 42 overs and poised for 350 before India fought back through disciplined bowling. Deepti Sharma took two wickets off the final over as Australia folded for 338.