Navi Mumbai, October 30, 2025 - Jemimah Rodrigues etched her name in cricketing history with an unbeaten century, guiding India to a record-breaking victory against Australia in the Women's World Cup semi-final. However, amidst the celebrations, the 25-year-old revealed the emotional turmoil and mental health struggles she had been battling throughout the tournament.
Rodrigues played a masterful innings, scoring 127 not out off 134 balls as India chased down a record total of 339, ending Australia's 16-match winning streak in ODI World Cups. Her performance was particularly significant given the challenges she faced leading up to the match.
"I've cried almost every day throughout this tour," Rodrigues confessed after the game. She spoke candidly about her struggles with anxiety and the impact of being dropped from the team earlier in the tournament. "I was not doing well mentally, going through a lot of anxiety, then being dropped was another challenge for me".
Rodrigues had been dropped for the match against England, adding to her anxieties. She revealed that she had been calling her mother and confiding in teammates like Smriti Mandhana and Arundhati Reddy, who helped her cope with the pressure. "Almost everyday, I cried in front of Arundhati, she checked on me every second of the day. Smriti helped me, she also knew what I was going through".
Despite the emotional challenges, Rodrigues remained focused on her goal. "Today was not about my fifty or my hundred," she said. "It was about making India win". She further added, "I just feel like God has given everything at the right time and he grew it into the right intention, pure intention. And I just feel everything has happened so far just to sit up for this. You make your own luck".
Rodrigues also shared the last-minute change in the batting order, "I didn't know I was batting at three. I was taking a shower and just told them to let me know. Five minutes before walking in, I was told I was batting at three". Despite the late notice, she was able to adjust and deliver a match-winning performance.
Australia's captain, Alyssa Healy, acknowledged that her team's fielding errors, including dropped catches, contributed to their defeat. Rodrigues was dropped twice during her innings, and Healy admitted, "We created opportunities. We just weren't able to capitalise".
Rodrigues's resilience and match-winning innings have been widely praised, with many calling it one of the greatest ODI World Cup victories for India. Her story is a testament to her mental fortitude and determination to overcome adversity. With this win, India advances to the World Cup final to face South Africa.
