The year 2025 has unfolded as a defining chapter in Jemimah Rodrigues’ cricketing journey. With two ODI centuries, series-defining performances overseas, and an infectious energy that radiates on the field, she now stands on the cusp of her maiden Women’s ODI World Cup. For Rodrigues, this isn’t just another tournament—it is the culmination of years of resilience, reinvention, and relentless pursuit of growth.
The contrast in her numbers tells the story best. In 2024, Rodrigues managed just one half-century across 12 ODI innings. Fast forward to 2025, and the transformation is striking: seven fifties and two hundreds already—her maiden 102 against Ireland in Rajkot and a career-best 123 against South Africa in Colombo.
This rise didn’t happen overnight. Rodrigues admits that adapting to the rhythm of 50-over cricket demands patience. “The first thing was, till 2024 we were playing a lot of T20s. I myself had not played a lot of ODIs then. I had to give myself some time to get used to that format too… Sometimes you just need some time to adjust to the 50-over challenge. And the second thing was also the batting position I was at (she moved down to No. 5). So maybe I didn’t score as many fifties, but I did get a lot of impactful innings.”
That shift to No. 5 became a turning point, offering Rodrigues a fresh role and a new mindset. “Batting at No. 5 came as a blessing in disguise too, because I didn’t know I had that game until I was put in that position. So, one thing that I very consciously changed, nothing about the technique, but just about the mindset: I started practising in the nets from the first ball, taking the bowler on… I was okay failing. I gave myself license to try, because if I didn’t try, I would never know.”
The results soon followed. Her strike rate climbed, her finishing skills sharpened, and she cemented her place as India’s middle-order stabiliser.
Yet, Rodrigues’ identity as a cricketer extends beyond batting. Her joy in fielding is equally central to her game. “The thing is that one of the biggest pluses for me is that I love fielding. I’ve always enjoyed fielding… I think it’s one of the most selfless things you can do as a team-mate, to field for your bowler or to field for your team. And runs saved are equal to runs scored.”
But the path has not been without heartbreak. The most painful setback came when she was left out of the 2022 ODI World Cup squad. “For me, that was one of the biggest lows of my life, I would say. I (had never been) dropped from any team I was a part of. This was the first time it was happening. I didn’t know how to take it, or what to do. I used to just cry in my room, just put a pillow over my head and start crying, because I didn’t know how to (deal with it).”
Through those difficult times, friendships became her anchor—none more so than her bond with Smriti Mandhana. “Smriti has been a proper elder sister to me. We have a bond and I thank cricket for that… More than anything it has helped me when things don’t go your way. Because firstly, you’re away from home, it can get lonely out there. Just to have someone you can trust and someone who knows, who generally cares about you doing well.”
Now, Rodrigues has herself grown into a guiding figure in the Indian dressing room. “With the Indian team, I didn’t realise when that role shifted because it happened so subtly… I genuinely take that role very seriously because I just know I can make people feel comfortable. Imagine a youngster walking in – I know I can walk up to them, talk to them… Or sometimes even leaving them a message and telling them: I believe in you no matter what.”
Her calm presence in pressure situations, especially during run-chases, is another hallmark of her game. It is a product of meticulous planning. “For me, I like to break it down. Not over by over, maybe five-over segments. I am very calculating in what I do… I think the most important thing about chases, and one of my mentors, Hrishikesh Kanitkar sir, told me this… you need to know in the last ten or last five overs what run rate you will be able to achieve.”
From her maiden ODI century in Rajkot to the career-best 123 in Colombo, Rodrigues’ 2025 has been filled with moments of affirmation.
And now, as India gears up for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup in Guwahati, beginning September 30, Jemimah Rodrigues is no longer the “baby” of the side. She has evolved into a middle-order pillar, a livewire in the field, and a leader in waiting.
“To be honest, I love captaincy. I love the leadership role in general… I don’t sit and think, “Oh, one day I’ll be captain.” The dream is there, yes, but I’m just too busy doing what I need to do to help me score and perform on the team and to contribute to the team’s winning.”
For her, this World Cup is more than just a debut. It is the stage she has been building towards ever since the heartbreak of 2022. And this time, Jemimah Rodrigues is ready.
(Quotes sourced from ESPN)
