India pulled off a miracle in Navi Mumbai. Chasing 339 against mighty Australia in the Women’s ODI World Cup semifinal, the team scripted the highest chase in the tournament’s history. At the heart of it stood Jemimah Rodrigues, calm, brave, and full of belief, who stayed unbeaten and guided India into Sunday’s final against South Africa.
It was a night of dreams and redemption. Minutes after sealing victory, Jemimah opened up about her unexpected batting promotion, the mental battles of the past month, and the faith that kept her steady.
Jemimah was supposed to bat at No. 5. She was in the shower when the team suddenly changed plans. “I was taking an ice bath when they told me I’d bat at the same spot,” she recalled with a laugh. “Then another message came, ‘You’re going in now!’ I was still in the shower. I just freshened up, ate a bit, and walked out.”
The change tested her adaptability, but she stayed calm. “I knew I had to build partnerships with Smriti or Harman. I kept telling myself to stay there. Amazing things happen if you just stand and give God a chance.”
Jemimah didn’t celebrate her fifty or hundred. “When I reached 50 or 100, I looked at our hotel nearby and thought, what would make me happier tomorrow morning? A 100 or India winning? I wanted to sleep with the smile that we’re in the final,” she said.
Australia had scored big, but Jemimah believed the total was chaseable. “They were 30 short,” she said. “At DY Patil, any score is chaseable if you stay there.”
She had faced heartbreaks before against Australia. “Three times we came close and still lost. I didn’t want that again. I wanted to finish it this time,” she said.
The day before the match, India discussed their World Cup goals. “I said I want to stay till the end and finish. Whether we bat first or chase, I can find gaps and create partnerships. It felt like God was preparing me for this moment.”
When Harmanpreet got out for 89, Jemimah refocused. “Her wicket was a blessing in disguise. I was tired and losing focus. When she got out, I told myself I have to finish it for her. That helped me regain control,” she said.
Fatigue and doubt tested her in the final overs. “I was drained. I didn’t know whether to go hard or take it deep. I prayed and told myself that when I can’t carry myself, God carries me.”
But the toughest fight had come before this match, inside her mind. “I’ll be honest,” Jemimah said, her voice breaking. “At the start of the tournament, I was struggling with anxiety. I called my mom and cried before matches. I felt numb.”
Her family and teammates became her pillars. “My parents, Arundhati, Smriti, Radha, they stood by me. Sometimes Aru just let me cry. Smriti stayed with me in the nets without saying much. Their presence gave me peace,” she shared.
Jemimah spoke about how faith pulled her through. “I’m thankful to Jesus. The Bible says, ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.’ Today, joy came but I’m still weeping,” she said with tears in her eyes.
This wasn’t her first comeback. Being dropped from the last World Cup had hurt deeply. “I didn’t come here to prove a point. I just wanted India to win,” she said. “I had a poor start, zeros, small scores, then dropped. This hundred means more because of all that.”
Playing in front of her family and Mumbai fans made it even more special. “It’s my best innings so far. I’m saving one more for the final,” she smiled.
For Jemimah, the semifinal wasn’t about who the opponent was. “It didn’t matter if it was Australia or anyone else. We wanted to win the moment for India. That’s all that counts,” she said.
As the crowd roared at DY Patil, Jemimah stood still, soaking it all in. “It hasn’t sunk in yet,” she whispered. “The last month wasn’t easy, but it prepared me for this. I’m grateful to those who believed in me when I couldn’t believe in myself.”
The girl who often travels with a guitar on her shoulder became a rockstar with the bat that night, leading India to one of its greatest wins with faith in her heart and courage in her hands.
