"I know I have done, Nothing", Jemimah Rodrigues said after the spectacular performance and it came right from the heart. "Stand still and know God". Doing the best you can.
Surrender is not the loss of control. But it is understanding that you never had control.
What a day for every Indian heart! 🇮🇳
This isn’t just a win, it’s a story of courage, belief, and unbreakable spirit. Each one of you played with fire, grace, and heart , proving once again that dreams have no limits when carried with passion. You’ve made the nation proud, and every little girl watching you today will dare to dream bigger tomorrow. 💫🏏
This is a moment she has arrived and it fills my heart and eyes with tears of joy.
First, I would congratulate Harman & Co. for this humongous win over The Mighty Australian side.
Yes there was a lack of application from Australia today and they played unlike their behaviour in ICC knockout in the second half of the game, missed major catches in the clutch moment. Most importantly what was missing today for Australia was THE BIG LUCK FACTOR from which they always get the advantage. Yes they won the toss again in an all important semi final, cruised to a big total but today the script was different.
It was JEMIMAH RODRIGUES whose courage determination perseverance and most importantly game awareness with a fine chain of fortune helped The women in blue do the impossible task of chasing down the highest ever ODI total that too in a clutch semi final game. Jemmy did hold the clutch of the batting engine unit beautifully with sheer elegance and bravery. Yes today She roared like a Tigress with wounds battling anxiety in the whole tournament. As We all know FORTUNE FAVOURS THE BRAVE and today it was THE BRAVE JEMI...WELL FOUGHT LADY... CHEERS TO THE VICTORY!!!
Having said all this let's also not forget the innings from Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur. Sheer elegance with her usual power. Her first WC as Captain and fifth as player.
Would also mention the little but impactful contributions from the veteran Deepti Sharma and some power hitting by Richa Ghosh and yes India missed Pratika Rawal at the top of the order but nevertheless lets wish all the best to Shefali Verma for the big finals we all know how dangerous she can be.
But the job is still undone just one more game to go and we shall get a new WORLD CHAMPION 🏆🏆
Let's keep our fingers crossed 🤞 and wish THE LADIES IN BLUE for the glory. GO FOR IT Indian Cricket Team
She made her India debut back in 2018, but the journey since then has been anything but smooth. Dropped from the team, left out of the 2022 World Cup squad, trolled for making reels, batted out of position - she faced it all.
Behind that ever-smiling face was a girl fighting anxiety, sleepless nights, and the weight of expectations. Crying silently - yet never giving up.
Even in this tournament, after a poor start, she was dropped again. But she never stopped believing. Because champions aren’t defined by how they fall, but by how they rise. And when India needed her the most - she stood tall.
With belief, with courage, with fire in her heart - she played the innings of her life against Australia. An unforgettable, match-winning knock that has taken India one step closer to World Cup glory.
The most extraordinary thing about Jemimah Rodrigues' innings was not that she made 127 in the most successful chase in ODI-W history. Or that she was on the field for longer than anyone else in that match - 97 overs, in that humidity, under that kind of pressure, and still was standing at the end. Or that she came out in the second over at 13-1 and did not allow the strike rate to fall in her stand with Mandhana. Or that, at 59-2 when a well-set Mandhana was dismissed, she took the lead boldly and positively, till her captain Harmanpreet Kaur found her voice and came into full bloom for a while.
Actually, the most extraordinary thing about Jemimah's innings was that she was done around the 33rd over. She was visibly exhausted, physically and mentally. India had just crossed 200. She'd made 82 off 88 when she gave that sitter of a catch, and was dropped. She had lost her intensity. Harmanpreet seemed to tell her to take a breath while she took charge herself, but that didn't last long. That moment, when Harmanpreet went and their 167-run stand ended, was the most fragile moment of the match. It would have been completely normal and understandable if Jemimah followed her to the shed - it is not a coincidence that large batting stands often see both batters dismissed in quick succession.
But Jemimah suddenly went into a different zone and it was visible. She calmed herself down with singles, without consuming dot balls, and literally willed her intensity back, against what her body and mind had been ostensibly telling her. She got into a flow that seemed to transform the energy of her two batting partners thereafter - both Deepti Sharma and Richa Ghosh played near-perfect innings, taking risks with a kind of conviction that coaches only dream of for their wards in such high pressure situations. Without taking any credit away from them, that collective conviction appeared to come from Jemimah's flow.
The best manifestation of that flow was when she did not bother celebrating her hundred (a huge contrast from Ravindra Jadeja in the 2019 World Cup semifinal that India famously lost), and continued combining risk-taking with calculated caution. That moment when she was so focussed on the team goal (perhaps being a former hockey professional played its part too) that everything else was literally a blur. That fire was infectious and it showed.
This was actually less an all-time great individual performance, more a team-transforming innings. It is going to be very hard to stop India from becoming the first Asian team to win the Women's World Cup title on Sunday, in fact the first team besides Australia, England and New Zealand to do so. Not to jinx it, but this was that kind of an innings, that kind of transcendental magic, where a visible limitation is transformed into something greater than oneself. The sort that happens once or twice in a lifetime (Laxman-Dravid, Kolkata 2001 is perhaps the closest men's equivalent for Indians).
Here's hoping this team makes 2025 its 1983. This was greater than even the legendary 175 (please educate yourself properly if you're misled by mass media - that was NOT a do-or-die game, the next one against Australia was; even if India lost that match they would have reached the semis if they beat Australia) because this came in a knockout game, when the player was spent and a second wind seemed desperately out-of-reach. This kind of magic is never wasted on a single match, however memorable.
India’s chase of 339 against Australia is a masterclass in resilience, strategy, and belief. Facing a formidable target, the team resisted panic and instead focused on building partnerships. Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur exemplified how collaboration and mutual trust can transform pressure into progress. Their approach was not reckless; it was calculated—balancing aggression with caution, adapting to the evolving match situation.
This performance underscores the power of belief. Confidence is contagious; when leaders remain composed, teams rally behind them. Harmanpreet’s leadership and Jemimah’s unwavering support illustrate that success is rarely a solo act—it’s a collective effort driven by clarity of purpose.
Equally important is execution. India didn’t waste energy lamenting the challenge; they channelled it into disciplined action—timely boundaries, sharp running, and smart shot selection. In business and life, this translates to focusing on controllable factors rather than external constraints.
Finally, preparation played a silent yet decisive role. Physical fitness, mental toughness, and technical skill enabled the players to seize the opportunity when it mattered most. For organisations, this is a reminder that consistent investment in capability-building pays off during critical moments.
In essence, India’s triumph teaches us that resilience, adaptability, belief, and execution—anchored in preparation—are the cornerstones of success, whether on the cricket field or in the boardroom.
Lessons from India’s Chase
Resilience Under Pressure
India demonstrated that setbacks (early wickets, high target) don’t define the outcome. Staying calm and focused can turn adversity into opportunity.
Strategic Partnerships Matter
Jemimah and Harmanpreet built a strong partnership, showing that collaboration and trust are critical for achieving ambitious goals.
Adaptability Wins
The team adjusted their approach mid-game—balancing aggression with caution. In business, flexibility in strategy is vital when conditions change.
Belief Fuels Performance
Confidence in their ability to chase a daunting total was evident. Organisations and individuals thrive when they believe in their capabilities.
Execution Over Excuses
Instead of dwelling on the challenge, they focused on execution—timely boundaries, smart running. Success often comes from disciplined action rather than over-analysis.
Leadership in Action
Harmanpreet’s composure and Jemimah’s support highlight how leadership and empowerment drive collective success.
Preparation Meets Opportunity
Fitness, skill, and mental readiness enabled them to seize the moment. Consistent preparation ensures readiness for high-stakes situations.
In life things take time. But when they fall in place everything looks like a dream. Imagine you are chasing your highest ever score, in a WC semifinal, with a runrate of 8 in the last 6 overs, against the world's strongest team - and your leading batter is looking exhausted. What are your chances of winning?
But then, there is a beauty in those who refuse to give up the chase, however improbable it looks. When batters are playing in a zone, they have no idea if they will win or lose. If they think about the result, pressure will take over their mind - and it will cost them the game.
This is probably why Jemima left everything to God. While she left the result to God, she did not give up trying till the end. That is what made all the difference.
The rule is this - for god to not give up on you, you need to not give up on yourself.
Take a bow, Jemimah Rodrigues. You’ve made the whole nation proud. 💙
Because when it’s written by God, every setback is just a setup for a greater comeback. ✨
No comments:
Post a Comment