The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai bore witness to a night that will be etched into the annals of women’s cricket history, as Jemimah Rodrigues orchestrated a chase for the ages, guiding India to a sensational five-wicket victory over Australia in the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 semifinal. With an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls, Rodrigues not only broke records but also broke her silence about the mental battles she faced throughout the tournament, offering fans a rare and heartfelt glimpse into the emotional world of elite athletes.
It was a dewy Thursday evening, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Australia, the seven-time World Cup champions and tournament favorites, had set a daunting target of 338, powered by Phoebe Litchfield’s explosive 119 and her 155-run stand with Ellyse Perry. For India, who had suffered three consecutive defeats earlier in the tournament and had even dropped Rodrigues from the playing XI, the odds seemed stacked against them. But cricket, as ever, thrives on the unexpected—and Rodrigues was about to script a comeback story for the ages.
Promoted to number three in the batting order, Rodrigues strode out early after both openers fell within the first ten overs. The pressure was immense, but she responded with a masterclass in composure and tactical brilliance. Teaming up with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, Rodrigues stitched together a 167-run partnership that not only steadied the chase but also shifted the momentum irreversibly in India’s favor. When Harmanpreet departed for 89 in the 36th over, the tension ratcheted up, but Rodrigues, visibly exhausted, dug even deeper.
Speaking after the match, Rodrigues revealed the emotional and physical toll the chase had taken on her. “When I was inside and around 85, when I was batting, I was really tired. I had spoken to Deepti at that time. I told Deepti, ‘You know Deepu, please keep talking to me, I can't do this.’ Every single ball from there, Deepti was cheering and encouraging me. Every ball, she even sacrificed her wicket for my one run. And then she told me, when she was walking back, she was like, 'Koi na, tu match khatam kar ke aa. (No worries, you finish the match),” Rodrigues recounted, her gratitude to her teammates palpable.
It wasn’t just the physical exhaustion that Rodrigues had to overcome. In the post-match presentation, the 25-year-old opened up about battling severe anxiety throughout the tournament, a struggle that had left her feeling numb and often in tears. “I will be very vulnerable here because someone who is watching this might be going through the same thing. Nobody likes to talk about their weaknesses. I was going through a lot of anxiety at the start of the tournament. It was a lot before a few games… I used to call my mum and cry the entire time, let it all out because when you go through anxiety, you feel numb,” she said, her voice wavering with emotion.
Rodrigues credited her family and close friends—including teammates like Smriti Mandhana, Arundhati Reddy, and Radha Yadav—for their unwavering support. “During this time, my mom and dad supported me a lot. There was Smriti, who also helped me… she just knows whose presence is important for me. I am so blessed to have friends who I can call family, that I didn’t have to go through it alone. And it’s okay to ask for help.” She also expressed her appreciation for Arundhati, saying, “I think I’ve cried in front of her almost every day. Later, I joked, ‘Don’t come near me or I’ll start crying!’ But she checked on me every single day.”
The journey to this moment was anything but straightforward. After modest scores of 0, 32, 0, and 33 to start her maiden World Cup, Rodrigues was dropped for the match against England—a decision that hit her hard. “That really hit me. When you’re dropped, you have a lot of doubts. I always want to contribute to the team, but that day I couldn’t do much sitting out. When I came back, the pressure was even greater,” she admitted. But she bounced back in style, scoring an unbeaten 76 against New Zealand to regain her rhythm and confidence.
Throughout the semifinal, Rodrigues was seen dropping to her knees, moments she described as silent prayers and self-talk to battle fatigue and maintain focus. “I was praying. I was talking to myself because I’d lost a lot of energy and was feeling very tired. Because of that, I played a few loose shots—it was a tricky phase. I was wondering, ‘Should I go for it now? Or take it deep?’ The learning was to stay there. Towards the end, we could always take it deep,” she explained. Faith, she said, played a central role: “I relied on Jesus to help me out of the mental crisis.”
Crucial contributions from teammates like Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, and Amanjot Kaur eased some of the pressure on Rodrigues, but she was quick to point out the importance of partnerships: “It wouldn't be possible without partnerships; it wouldn't be possible without special cameos that go unnoticed. But Deepti's knock, Richa's knock, Amanjot's knock, took a lot of pressure off me. Of course, Harmanpreet and I had a great partnership, but in the past, it has always happened that one of us loses our wicket, and we go on to lose the match. But today, this Indian team changed that.”
Expert voices also weighed in on Rodrigues’ openness about her mental health. Dr. Suyash V Shendye, consultant psychiatrist at Sir Ganga Ram City Hospital, Delhi, explained, “It’s catharsis—a natural way to let pressure out when emotions build up. But anxiety isn’t just emotional; it’s physical too—fast heartbeat, shallow breathing, tightness in the chest. So while tears help release, they don’t always heal. Reconnecting with people helps the system truly settle.” He emphasized the power of support: “When someone listens without judgment, the brain feels safer. That sense of belonging actually lowers stress chemicals. You don’t need a crowd—one honest friend, a teammate, or even a counsellor can be enough. And if you’re alone, start with small steps—join a space where you can just be seen. Support heals silently.”
Rodrigues’ message to others facing similar struggles was simple yet profound: “Sometimes all you need to do is hang in there and things fall into place. I’m very grateful to those who believed in me and understood me, because I couldn’t have done this alone.”
As the final looms, India’s remarkable turnaround—from losing three matches on the trot to dethroning the defending champions—has electrified the cricketing world. With Australia’s 16-match World Cup unbeaten streak snapped and a new champion guaranteed, anticipation for Sunday’s final against South Africa is feverish. Rodrigues and her teammates stand on the cusp of history, their journey a testament not only to sporting excellence but also to the power of vulnerability, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of team and family.
