In a performance that will go down in cricketing history, Jemimah Rodrigues powered India to a record-breaking chase of 339 runs against Australia, marking the highest successful run chase in Women’s ODI history and the first-ever 300-plus chase in a World Cup knockout — across both men’s and women’s tournaments.
When the world awaited her reaction to the iconic victory, Rodrigues turned her gratitude heavenward. “Firstly, I want to thank Jesus because I couldn’t do this on my own. I know He carried me through today,” she said after the match.
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Explaining her visible self-talk and focus during the innings, Rodrigues shared that she drew strength from her faith: “Initially, while playing, I was talking to myself, but towards the end I was quoting a Scripture from the Bible as I had lost energy and was tired. The Scripture says, ‘Stand still and God will fight for you’ (Exodus 14:14), and that’s what I did — I just stood there, and He fought for me.”
Reflecting on her innings, Rodrigues emphasized that her goal was the team’s success, not personal milestones. “Today was not about my 50 or my 100 — it was about making India win. I know I got a few chances, but I feel like God scripted everything at the right time. When we do things with the right intention, He always blesses.”
Rodrigues also opened up about the mental challenges she faced ahead of the tournament, revealing that she had been through a tough phase. “I wasn’t in a good place mentally, but my teammates stood by me and believed in me. I’m really grateful for my supportive peers. I just had to show up — and God took care of everything,” she said.
Born to Mangalorean Catholic parents and raised in Bhandup, Mumbai, Jemimah’s cricket journey began under the guidance of her father, Ivan Rodrigues, who not only coached her but also helped establish a girls’ cricket team at her school.
From her early days training in Mumbai’s dusty nets to leading India on the grandest stage, Rodrigues’s journey is a story of faith, family, and perseverance — one that continues to inspire a generation of aspiring cricketers.
