Wasn't doing well mentally, had a lot of anxiety, Jemimah Rodrigues says after historic knock
Navi Mumbai: Indian cricket’s newest World Cup hero, Jemimah Rodrigues, broke down during the post-match presentation ceremony after guiding India to a historic five-wicket win over Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final on Thursday. Fighting back tears, the 25-year-old opened up about her mental health struggles, including anxiety, and how the support of her family, teammates, and faith in God helped her rediscover her strength.
Jemimah’s unbeaten 127 off 134 balls was more than a match-winning knock; it was a story of resilience and faith. “It was really hard this last month, it feels like a dream and it still has not sunk in. Last time, I was dropped from this World Cup. I was in good form. But things kept happening back-to-back and I could not control anything. I have almost cried every day through this tour," a visibly emotional Jemimah said.
Determined to speak honestly about her struggles, Jemimah said she wanted to be vulnerable because she knew others might be facing similar battles. She recalled how anxiety gripped her during the early stages of the tournament, leading to tearful phone calls to her mother. “At the start of the tournament, I was going through a lot of anxiety. I used to call my mom and cry the entire time because when you’re going through anxiety, you just feel numb,” she shared. Having started the campaign with a string of low scores and even being dropped for the match against England, Jemimah admitted that her confidence took a major hit. But she credited her faith, family, and close friends for helping her fight through that dark phase.
During her innings on Thursday, Jemimah constantly motivated herself, engaging in self-talk to stay composed. She later revealed that in the tense final moments, she recited a verse from the Bible to maintain her focus.
“I think initially I was just trying to stay focussed, I just keep talking to myself. But towards the end I was just quoting one scripture from the Bible. Because I had lost energy, I was very tired. I was drained and one scripture that said, "just stand still and God will fight for you". And that's what I did. And I just stood there and he fought for me,” she said, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
She also explained that she didn’t celebrate her century because her focus remained firmly on taking India home. "Today was not about my 50 or my 100. Today was about making India win. I know I got a few chances, but 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," she said after winning the Player of the Match in the big-ticket semi-final.
The star player further spoke about the support she received from her teammates, saying that towards the end she tried to push herself but could barely manage to continue. "Deepti spoke to me every ball and kept encouraging me. Richa came and lifted me up. When I cannot carry on, my teammates can encourage me. Cannot take credit for anything, I did not do anything (on my own)," added Jemimah.
The ICC shared a five-minute video of Jemimah’s emotional interview on social media, captioned: “A teary Jemimah Rodrigues describes what it means to take India through to the #CWC25 final.” Fans flooded the comments with praise for her openness about mental health. One user wrote, “What a courageous lady! She could have shown her winner’s side, but she chose to show her vulnerable side. The battles she fought in her head. So much honesty. What a role model!”
India’s record-breaking victory over Australia not only sealed their spot in the final but also ignited hopes of a maiden ODI World Cup title. The Women in Blue will face South Africa in the final on November 2 in Navi Mumbai.
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1,850 missing mobile phones recovered as Delhi Police focusses on victim-centric policing
New Delhi (PTI): Delhi Police has recovered 1,850 stolen and lost mobile phones worth around Rs 4 crore in past 40 days under "Mission Reconnect", an initiative aimed at returning phones to their rightful owners in outernorth Delhi, an official said on Saturday.
The recovered phones were traced from different parts of the country, including remote areas, through technical surveillance and sustained field operations, police said, adding that the devices were handed over to their owners during a programme at the Sports Ground, New Police Lines, Kingsway Camp.
The initiative focused on a victim-centric approach and aimed at strengthening public trust through proactive policing and coordinated efforts across states, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outernorth) Hareshwar Swami said.
As part of the programme, teams performed 'nukkad nataks' and screened awareness videos on cybercrime, drug abuse prevention, and senior citizen safety, sensitising the public about digital frauds and safety measures, officials said.
The initiative combines technology, investigation and community participation to ensure recovery of lost property and reconnect citizens with their valuables, they added.
