Jemimah Rodrigues is back to what she does best – playing cricket, turning out for Brisbane Heat in the women’s Big Bash League. India’s much adored World Cup winning star joked to Channel 7 at her first game, “Honestly I was not sure if Australia would allow me to cross borders after semifinals. But honestly everyone’s been so warm and welcoming.”
The 25-year-old would also speak about how everyone was happy for the growth of women’s cricket that happened because of the World Cup win. “Because we know it will change massively not just in India but across the world how women’s cricket is seen,” she said.
But prior to heading out for the T20 league where she will play alongside South African fellow finalist Nadine de Klerk, Jemimah spoke to JioHotstar’s ‘Celebrating Champions’ about the impact of women’s cricket’s surge.
Talking about her early struggles, she recalled being the only girl among 500 boys at MIG Cricket Club in Bandra during her childhood. “After the 2017 World Cup, things gradually changed, and within two years, we had special nets just for girls. Standing there made me realize women’s cricket had truly arrived. Now, seeing parents say they want their sons to play like me feels incredibly special. But this is just the beginning. Our team understands we have greater responsibility as world champions. We must set the right example, which our team is committed to doing,” she said.
She insisted she was still in a daze, though the dream had begun watching Sachin Tendulkar win the Cup in 2011. “I still can’t describe this feeling in words or believe we’ve actually won the World Cup. After dreaming about it for so long, when the moment finally came, I kept wondering if this was really happening. This journey began when I was just 11 years-old, watching Sachin sir from my balcony and dreaming of winning a World Cup one day. To see that dream come true a few days ago is absolutely crazy and outstanding. I haven’t been able to sleep since we won, but it’s the most wonderful feeling imaginable.”
Her entry in the Indian team was memorable and she was made to feel comfortable and welcomed by the much-adored Jhulan Goswami. “I remember my first day in the dressing room with legends like Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj, while Smriti and Harman were just beginning their leadership roles. During my first net session, I felt really nervous seeing Jhulan didi’s long run-up. She came up to me and said she had followed my domestic performances and told me I deserved to be here and should just enjoy my game. That moment meant everything coming from someone of her stature. She didn’t need to do that, but she set the standard for being a good teammate by welcoming us youngsters. Now we’re passing on that same welcome to the next generation of players,” she added.
Jemimah lauded BCCI and then secretary Jay Shah for granting equal treatment to women’s cricket even before they won the World Cup – crucially before winning when support was most needed. “What Jay Shah sir did set everything at the same level and made people see that it’s not about men or women, everyone is just playing cricket. The BCCI broke that barrier at the right time, not after we won the World Cup when it would have been easier. They believed in us and supported us when it mattered most. We’ve never felt any lack of support from BCCI, whether it’s grounds, training facilities, coaches, or physios, we always got what we needed. Today’s World Cup victory is the direct result of that consistent support system,” she told JioHotstar.
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The win had come years after successive teams trying to win. “Our World Cup victory belongs to the players who came before us. They played without fame, money, or proper support, driven only by pure passion for the game. Because they planted the seeds, we’re now enjoying the fruits. Nobody in our team wants to take credit because we know we stand on the shoulders of legends like Jhulan di, Mithali di, Anjum di, Shantha Rangaswamy ma’am, Neetu David di, and Diana Edulji ma’am. During our victory lap, we specifically went to thank these pioneers. We won this for the entire nation, but especially for them. I’m excited to see how this victory will transform women’s cricket’s future,” Jemimah said.
She hailed coach Amol Muzumdar’s team-building approach that he tried to insist on, adding it was team unity even through tough times that took the team past the line. “What I love about Amol sir is his strong belief in team bonding. This team stays together through everything. Everyone genuinely celebrates each other’s successes, and during tough times, there’s always someone offering support. That special connection is what makes us different. It’s exactly what Amol sir wanted to build over these past two years. This unity has become our greatest strength.”