On the eve of India’s Women’s World Cup 2025 final against South Africa, the former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, promised Jemimah Rodrigues of singing a duet with her if they went on to lift the trophy. She played an incredible knock of unbeaten 127 runs against Australia in the semifinal as they pulled off the biggest chase.

Following India’s triumph, Jemimah Rodrigues, took to Instagram and shared a video message for Gavaskar, saying she was prepared with the guitar and asked for a jamming session with Gavaskar, who later posted a video to confirm the date for the duet song.

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“Hi Jemimah. Firstly, many congratulations to you and your team for winning the ICC Women's World Cup. That has been a tremendous moment. A moment to cherish, a moment to savor, a moment for the ages. And for all the happiness and joy that you've given the Indian cricketing community and the Indian cricket fans. We can't thank you enough.” Gavaskar expressed in a video on Instagram.

Watch: Sunil Gavaskar asks Jemimah Rodrigues to confirm dates for duet concert

Gavaskar congratulated the Indian women’s side for the success and also informed that he couldn’t sing the song he prepared because he didn't have permission to enter the dressing room. In the final, India restricted the Proteas to 246 to claim a victory by 52 runs.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Sunil Gavaskar (@gavaskarsunilofficial)

“Yes, I do remember saying that if we win the World Cup, and I was always confident that you were going to do that, that you would play the guitar, and I would sing the song. The song, of course, is up to you, which one? I had a song prepared in case I was able to get you to the change room, but of course, I didn't have the accreditation to be there.” Gavaskar addressed.

“This weekend, maybe, Saturday or Sunday. Saturday, the Indian team is playing in Australia, so maybe you want to do it on Saturday evening or Sunday after the game. Entirely up to you. Do let me know. Looking forward to doing that.” The former Indian captain concluded.

Star India cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues has given a cheerful response to legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar’s lighthearted request to sing a song with her. On October 30, after India’s thrilling semi-final win against Australia in the Women’s World Cup 2025, where Jemimah played a match-winning knock of an unbeaten 127 runs, Gavaskar made a fun promise during a discussion on India Today. The cricket legend said that if India went on to win the World Cup, he would love to sing a song with Jemimah.

Gavaskar had said, “All I can say is that if India wins the World Cup, she (Jemi) and I, if she’s okay to do that, we will sing a song together, she with her guitar and I will sing a song.” India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, fulfilled that dream on November 2 by defeating South Africa by 52 runs in the final at DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, to lift the prestigious trophy.

Just two days after India’s historic win, on Tuesday, November 4, Jemimah Rodrigues took to Instagram to respond to Gavaskar’s message. She wrote, “Hi, Sunil Gavaskar sir. I saw your message and you said that if India win the World Cup, we will both sing a song together. So, I’m ready with my guitar, hope you are ready with your mic. Lots of love sir, thank you for everything.” Fans are now eagerly waiting to see the two cricket icons share the stage for this much-anticipated duet.

Jemimah Rodrigues’ Key Role in India’s World Cup Triumph

Jemimah Rodrigues was one of India’s key players of the Women’s World Cup 2025. The right-handed batswoman played eight matches, scoring a total of 292 runs across seven innings, impressively averaging 58.40 and with a strike rate of 101.03. Her best outing was in the semi-final against Australia, where she scored an unbeaten 127 runs to guide India to a record 339 run chase, the highest successful pursuit in Women’s ODI history.

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A post shared by Jemimah Jessica Rodrigues (@jemimahrodrigues)

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Overall, the age 25 has also been one of India’s most consistent performers, having represented her national side in 59 ODIs for 1,749 runs in 56 innings at an average of 34.98 and a strike rate of 89.83. Jemimah has also scored eight fifties and three hundreds and continues to grow as a bright star of Indian cricket, on and off the field.

India’s former opening batter and coach, Sunil Gavaskar, was furious after he learnt that two Australian women cricketers faced harassment in Indore during the Women’s World Cup 2025. It happened on the eve of their game at the Holkar Stadium against South Africa, where the two players were touched inappropriately by a person on a motorcycle as they were strolling to a café. 

Gavaskar believes that incidents like these will tear the image of the nation, and the accused should face severe punishment. During an interaction with India Today, the former captain hopes to see the guilty person punished.

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“Yes, I think because we are famous for Atithi Devo Bhava, to hear of this is very, very sad. It is, without question, a heinous incident. The law will take its course, but I do hope that the guilty person is punished severely – you lock them up and throw away the key. That’s the only way, I think. Just lock him up and throw the keys away.” Gavaskar expressed on India Today.

Sunil Gavaskar furious at Australian women players facing harassment in Women’s World Cup 2025

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Devajit Saikia, condemned the unfortunate incident as he also thanked the Madhya Pradesh police for arresting the accused and asked the security to get more tightened.

“It is a very condemnable but stray incident. India is known for its hospitality and care. We have zero tolerance for such incidents. We appreciate the Madhya Pradesh Police for their prompt action to nab the culprit. Let the law take its course to punish the culprit. We assure to revisit our safety protocols if required to further tighten the security.” Saikia expressed in an official statement.

“No woman should ever have to endure such trauma, and our thoughts and support are with those impacted by this distressing incident. This unfortunate event has deeply affected everyone at MPCA, who cherishes the values of respect, safety, and the dignity of women. It is truly inspiring to see the players rise above this painful experience.” MPCA revealed in a statement.

Former India captain Virat Kohli looked in sublime touch during India’s practice session ahead of the second ODI against Australia in Adelaide, scheduled for Thursday, October 23. After a rare failure in the series opener in Perth, where he was dismissed for a duck by Mitchell Starc, Kohli spent extended time in the nets fine-tuning his technique, particularly focusing on playing on the front foot and timing through the off side.

This marks Kohli’s first international assignment since leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to their maiden IPL title earlier this year. Having retired from T20Is and Test cricket, the veteran batter now plays exclusively in ODIs and has been a vital presence in India’s setup. The ongoing series also comes after India’s Champions Trophy triumph earlier in 2025, adding further motivation for the side to continue their winning form.

Kohli’s track record in Adelaide offers plenty of encouragement for Indian fans. In four ODI innings at the venue, he has scored 244 runs at an impressive average of 61. Across all formats, he has piled up 975 runs at the ground, with five centuries and four fifties to his name. A strong innings in the upcoming game could see him surpass Kumar Sangakkara to become the second-highest run-scorer in ODI history. Kohli currently sits on 14,181 runs, just 54 shy of the Sri Lankan legend’s tally of 14,234.

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Virat Kohli looking in great touch the day before the 2nd ODI!@rohitjuglan #ViratKohli #AUSvsIND pic.twitter.com/YlB4bNwNri

— RevSportz Global (@RevSportzGlobal) October 22, 2025

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Gavaskar backs Kohli and Rohit to bounce back on familiar Adelaide surface

Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar also came out in support of Kohli and Rohit Sharma following their low scores in Perth. Speaking to Hindustan Times, Gavaskar noted that the pitch in the opening ODI was among the bounciest in Australia, which made stroke-making difficult for players returning from a short international break.

“India are still a very strong team. They have won the Champions Trophy recently, and I won’t be surprised if Rohit and Kohli score big in the next two games,” Gavaskar said. With Kohli eyeing a personal milestone and India aiming to level the series, all eyes will be on the Adelaide Oval as the Men in Blue look to bounce back strongly against Australia.

The former Indian opening batter, Sunil Gavaskar, has blamed the fans of Indian cricket for spreading a false claim of how the former ODI captain, Rohit Sharma, has deliberately underperformed under the new leadership of Shubman Gill during the opening 50-over clash against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

Gavaskar felt that the misconception is far from the truth. He also revealed that similar things had also been made in the past. Rohit Sharma returned with a struggling score of eight runs in the middle after he ended up getting an outside edge into the slip region.

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“Over the years, a significant misconception among Indian cricket fans is that if a player is replaced as captain, he will attempt to undermine the new captain by not performing to the best of his ability. Nothing can be further from the truth, for the simple fact is that if a captain has been replaced and then doesn’t perform, he could be out of the team altogether.” Gavaskar wrote in his column on Sportstar.

Sunil Gavaskar slams Indian fans for their misconception about former Indian captains

Along with Rohit, Virat Kohli was dismissed for an eight-ball duck in the middle. The right-handed batter couldn’t keep the ball on the ground when he went for a flashing drive and was caught by the backward point fielder.

“So, no player, however aggrieved he may feel at losing the captaincy, is ever going to underperform deliberately. With that misconception still going strong, many are questioning if young Shubman Gill will be able to handle two former captains, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who are part of the three-match One-Day International series against Australia.” The former opener addressed.

“Gill has gone out of his way to say that his equation with them hasn’t changed simply because he is the captain now. If anything, he will only benefit by having these two stalwarts by his side. Both would be happy to offer suggestions if asked, and what could be better for a captain leading in this format for the first time than to have two of the greatest ODI players playing in his team?” Gavaskar concluded.

The former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar, has dropped a massive statement on the two former captains, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, after the duo failed in the opening ODI of the three-match series against Australia at the Optus Stadium in Perth. He revealed that it would challenging for those two, who haven’t played for six months.

Rohit Sharma and Kohli’s last fixture for the Blue Brigade came during the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium against New Zealand. They played the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 for their respective franchises before taking retirement from the longest format ahead of the England series in the United Kingdom.

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“They were playing on probably the bounciest pitch in Australia. It wasn’t going be easy, especially for players who haven’t played international cricket for a couple of months. It was challenging even for Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who play regularly.” Sunil Gavaskar expressed as quoted by the India Today.

Sunil Gavaskar expects big scores from Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in last two ODIs vs Australia

Rohit started well with a single on the very first delivery of the innings before driving Josh Hazlewood for a beautiful straight boundary past the bowler. He, however, looked in good shape with the bat in the small knock before getting an outside edge into the hands of the slip fielder for eight runs.

On the other hand, Kohli failed to open his account in the eight-ball stay. He missed the flashing drive before misjudging the length ball into the hands of the backward point region. The Indian crowd went silent as it was a failure for both batters. Gavaskar, however, reckoned that both could make a fine comeback in the next two games.

“India are still a very good team. Don’t be surprised if Rohit and Kohli score big in the next two games. The more they play, the more time they spend in the nets, the quicker they will find their rhythm. Once they are back among the runs, India’s total will be 300 or 300-plus.” Gavaskar concluded.

India's ODI return wasn't impressive as they suffered a seven-wicket defeat in the rain-affected Perth ODI, which was the first game of the three-match ODI series against the hosts Australia. It was the much-awaited return of the two most popular Indian cricketers, the former Indian captains Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, but their returns were far from memorable. Legendary Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has made a big comment on RoKo before their second ODI at Adelaide.

On Sunday (October 19), the ODI series opener was majorly affected due to the rain, as the first innings, where India batted, was stopped multiple times due to rain. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli returned to international cricket after seven months, as they last appeared during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 Final, but both of them struggled in the Perth ODI. While Rohit and Kohli are the top two most ODI run-scorers in the battle between Australia and India in Australia, Rohit was dismissed for eight runs, and Kohli recorded his first ODI duck in Australia. 

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They were playing on probably the bounciest pitch in Australia: Sunil Gavaskar

While it was very sad for the Indian cricket fans are really sad with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli's poor return in international cricket, Sunil Gavaskar is confident enough in both the legendary Indian cricketers. Gavaskar pointed out the crucial factor of India's poor performance in the ODI series opener.

Gavaskar told India Today, "They were playing on probably the bounciest pitch in Australia. It wasn’t going to be easy, especially for players who haven’t played international cricket for a couple of months. It was challenging for Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer, who usually play international cricket quite regularly."

Don’t be surprised if Rohit and Kohli score big in the next two games: Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar feels that there will be no surprise of big scores from Rohit and Kohli in the next fixtures of this ODI series. The legendary Indian cricketer believes that once they find their rhythm back, India can comfortably score 300+ totals in the ODIs.  

Gavaskar added, "India are still a very, very good team. They’ve won the Champions Trophy. Don’t be surprised if Rohit and Kohli score big in the next two games. They are coming back after a few months away from international cricket. The more they play, the more time they spend in the nets, the more throwdowns they get — maybe even from the reserve bowlers bowling at them from 20 yards instead of 22 — the quicker they’ll find their rhythm. Once they’re back among the runs, India’s total will be 300, 300-plus."

India and Australia will face each other in the second ODI at Adelaide on Thursday (October 23). Sydney will host the last game of the ODI series on Saturday (October 25). 

When Shubman Gill became the Test captain of the Indian side ahead of the five-match red-ball series in the United Kingdom against England, many speculated whether the youngster would be able to crack the code in challenging conditions, especially in the absence of two veteran star batters, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, who announced their Test retirements in a span of one week. 

But Shubman Gill stood on his feet for the entire series as the new number four batter and ended with a 2-2 drawn result, which no one predicted by the start of June against the Ben Stokes-led side. In the opening game, he smashed 147 runs during the first innings, which was his maiden overseas Test century in the SENA countries.

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With India being 1-0 down coming to the second game at Edgbaston, he hammered 269 in the first innings, followed by a fine knock of 161 in just 162 balls in the second. After a silent Lord’s clash, he backed it up with 103 at Manchester. That century for Gill came when India were 0/2 in their second innings with a deficit of more than 300 runs.

Shubman Gill and Sunil Gavaskar celebrated identical Test numbers after 12 innings as Test captains

Gill continued the same rich form during the ongoing home red-ball series against the West Indies. After a fifty in the opening game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the Punjab-born creamed his fifth Test century as the red-ball captain during the second game at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. That equals him with the former captain, Sunil Gavaskar.

Both Gavaskar and Gill have notched up 933 runs after their first 12 innings as captain in Tests. The former had an average of 93.90 with two fifties and five centuries at the best score of 205. Gill, on the other hand, has an average of 84.82 with one fifty and five hundreds at the best score of 269.

Shubman’s next red-ball challenge will be in mid-November when they face South Africa at home for a two-match Test series. Those games will be equally crucial for the World Test Championship (WTC) points.

Yashasvi Jaiswal continued to showcase his hunger for big scores at the Arun Jaitley Stadium during the second Test against the West Indies. The 23-year-old looked in complete control, steadily progressing toward what could have been another remarkable double century in his growing Test career. His fluent strokeplay and timing on display suggested that a massive innings was on the cards.

However, a mix-up with captain Shubman Gill unexpectedly ended Jaiswal’s innings earlier than anticipated. Despite batting with composure and intent, he was dismissed after contributing a commanding 175 runs off 258 balls. His knock was highlighted by 22 elegant boundaries, reflecting both patience and aggression in equal measure.

Walking back to the pavilion, Jaiswal appeared visibly frustrated, knowing he had narrowly missed yet another milestone. Nonetheless, his innings reinforced his growing reputation as a dependable and exciting young batter for India, capable of turning matches with his big scores.

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Sunil Gavaskar’s Golden Words for Yashasvi Jaiswal:

After Day 2 concluded, Jaiswal shared his thoughts with the broadcast team, leading to a touching moment. Harsha Bhogle warmly commended the young batter, highlighting his impressive performance and maturity on the field, making the exchange both memorable and encouraging for the emerging talent. He said, “ Well done. We absolutely loved watching you bat. Don’t worry about how it ended.”

At that moment, Sunil Gavaskar, joining the panel, added a playful remark that made Jaiswal smile awkwardly. The former India captain’s light-hearted comment brought a humorous twist to the conversation, creating a memorable and relaxed moment amid the post-day analysis. 

He said, “ Just to add to that — great job, keep it up. Keep scoring those hundreds, those daddy hundreds. But since I’m a grandfather now, I’ll say, keep making granddaddy hundreds.” Taken off guard, Jaiswal could only respond with a brief “Thank you, sir,” as the studio erupted in laughter, turning the light-hearted moment into a fun and memorable interaction between the young batter and the legendary panel.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 175-run innings marked the fifth time in his budding Test career that he surpassed 150, equaling South Africa’s Graeme Smith for the most hundreds before turning 24. His ability to build big scores consistently highlights his growing impact in the longest format of the game.

Had Jaiswal reached a double century, it would have been his third in Tests, following two impressive knocks against England in the 2024 home series. Even without crossing 200 this time, his reliability and flair for significant innings reinforce why he is considered one of India’s most promising young talents in Test cricket.

The BCCI has announced their 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia down under, as they also revealed Shubman Gill as their new leader, with Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli being picked only as players. The series will begin on October 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

The former leader, Sunil Gavaskar, during a recent interaction on Sports Tak, revealed that the fans should be prepared for more bad news regarding Kohli and Rohit, both of whom have already hung up their shoes from the shortest and longest formats of the game in a span of 10 months.

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“Of course. If you (Rohit Sharma) are non-committal, if you can’t say whether you’ll be ready for the next two years, be ready [for more bad news]. Even if they are aware that if they only have to play ODI, there are rarely any. For that, they need to practice more and play something like the Vijay Hazare Trophy. This is possibly why they have taken that stance.” Gavaskar expressed on Sports Tak.

Sunil Gavaskar fears probable retirement of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma post Australia ODIs

Gavaskar has credited Rohit’s leadership, but has also asked to show support to the young captain, Gill, who also got the leadership in the longest format ahead of the five-match Test series against England in the United Kingdom.

“We don’t know whether Rohit will be ready for the 2027 World Cup. He only plays ODIs now, and if we see the international calendar, the Indian team isn’t playing too many ODIs. Bilateral tours mostly include Tests and T20Is. If he only plays 5-7 ODIs in a year, he won’t get that kind of practice, which you need for a big tournament like a World Cup.” The Mumbai-born addressed during the interaction.

“Personally, he has done a lot – won us the Champions Trophy and the T20 World Cup before that. There’s no two ways about his captaincy. But even he (Rohit Sharma) agrees with this decision because if you need to think two years ahead, then a young captain needs to be prepared.” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.