Navi Mumbai, 31 Oct

Overwhelmed after her unbeaten century fired India into the final of the Women’s ODI World Cup, Jemimah Rodrigues said Harmanpreet Kaur’s dismissal in the semifinal against Australia turned out to be a “blessing in disguise”.

Jemimah produced an innings of the highest quality under pressure, scoring 127 not out off 134 balls as India pulled off a world-record chase of 339, the highest successful pursuit in Women’s World Cup history, to reach the final against South Africa.

She had shared a 167-run stand with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur (89), and her dismissal in the 36th over placed added responsibility on Jemimah, especially since India had previously lost matches from winning positions.

“I was telling Harry di (Harmanpreet) that we both have to finish it,” Jemimah told reporters after the match.

“When she got out, it was like a blessing in disguise because I was losing focus due to tiredness. Her wicket added responsibility on me — that I had to stay there and finish it for her. That helped me refocus and get into the right zone.”

The 24-year-old, visibly emotional during the post-match press conference, said her faith in God helped her through moments of anxiety and exhaustion.

“I was praying. I was talking to myself because I’d lost a lot of energy. It was a tricky phase — I wasn’t sure whether to go for shots or take it deep,” she said.

“Every time I sank to my knees, I was praying. I feel I have a personal relationship with God, and when I cannot carry myself, He carries me.”

Jemimah admitted that her innings came after a challenging period where she battled anxiety and self-doubt.

“I was going through a lot of anxiety at the start of the tournament. I used to call my mum and cry, just to let it out because when you’re anxious, you feel numb,” she said.

“My parents supported me a lot. Arundhati (Reddy) checked on me every single day. Smriti (Mandhana) also helped, she didn’t say much during net sessions, but her presence meant everything. Radha (Yadav), too, has always taken care of me.”

Reflecting on the chase, Jemimah said India’s belief never wavered despite the huge target.

“We knew that DY Patil is a pitch where any score is chaseable. My thought process was simple — stay there, and the runs will come,” she said.

“Whichever team we would have faced in the semifinal, our approach would have been the same. We don’t play the team; we play the moment.”

With her poise, grit and faith, Jemimah has emerged as one of India’s most composed match-winners, and her words after the game summed it up perfectly: “Sometimes, a setback is what brings you back stronger.”