Jemimah Rodrigues and Laura Wolvaardt shared their mutual respect and love for each other’s teams after the historic ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final.
New Delhi: Sportsmanship shone brightly after India’s historic triumph at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 final, as Indian star Jemimah Rodrigues and South African captain Laura Wolvaardt exchanged warm words that captured the true spirit of cricket.
India lifted their first-ever Women’s World Cup trophy with a 52-run victory over South Africa at a packed DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on November 2. While India celebrated a long-awaited milestone, South Africa’s Wolvaardt earned immense respect for her composed leadership and a stunning century that kept her team fighting till the end.
Wolvaardt, who scored a valiant 101 in a losing cause, later took to Instagram to express her feelings. “Not meant to be for us last night. Thank you for a memorable six weeks, India. Still so proud,” she wrote.
Jemimah Rodrigues, one of India’s standout performers throughout the tournament, replied with equal warmth, saying, “The way you and this team played this tournament was amazing! You all can be proud of yourselves.” Wolvaardt responded with a heartfelt “thank you,” a small but powerful gesture that underlined the mutual admiration between the two players.
Rodrigues had played a pivotal role in India’s championship run, especially with her unbeaten 127 against Australia in the semi-final a knock that propelled India into the title clash and etched her name in Indian cricket history.
Even as India celebrated, the Navi Mumbai crowd paid tribute to Wolvaardt’s brilliance and sportsmanship. As she walked up for the post-match presentation, the stadium erupted in chants of “Well played, Laura!” a fitting acknowledgment of her class both on and off the field.
Their exchange, simple yet sincere, has since gone viral, with fans across the world hailing it as a perfect example of respect, grace, and camaraderie in sport proof that cricket’s greatest moments often go beyond the scoreboard.
