Jemimah Rodrigues fearless yet selfless vs Australia: Wanted the win, not the fifty

India Today

Women's World Cup: India's semi-final hero, Jemimah Rodrigues, emphasised that, through her fearless 127, she never thought about her own score rather just wanted to guide her side to the win from the get-go.

Transcript

00:00Jamiya, first of all, I told you about playing such a big game.

00:04When you got a target, what did you think of the team?

00:07And what did you think of batting in your mind?

00:10What did you think of playing such a long game, such a long score?

00:13What did you think of playing such a long game in your mind?

00:16Tell me about it.

00:17Yeah, I think when this score came,

00:20the team's thought was that

00:23against New Zealand, in 49 overs, we had scored 3-4-1.

00:28Against Australia and Wysak,

00:30where we had scored 3-33.

00:33So we knew that we have done it against this team,

00:36and I felt with the way Australia started,

00:39they were 30 runs short,

00:41with the way they were going, with the start they got.

00:43So I knew they were 30 runs short,

00:45and D.Y. Patel is such a pitch,

00:47any score is chaseable.

00:49So I just knew that,

00:50and my thought process was that

00:52I just had to be there,

00:53because there are runs coming,

00:55but I need to be there to get those runs.

00:57Yes.

00:58Jemima, it was a world record chase,

01:00in the league stage that Australia did against India,

01:03and today it was,

01:04you think it was a fitting reply to Australia,

01:06that you had a world record chase in women's ODS,

01:08and were you praying,

01:10or were you tired that you were,

01:12in between overs, in between divers,

01:14you were kneeling down and looking down,

01:16were you praying, or what was it?

01:17Yeah, I was praying, I was talking to myself,

01:20because actually I lost a lot of energy,

01:23I was not feeling, I was feeling very tired,

01:25and because of the tiredness,

01:27I was playing a few shots that,

01:29you know, it was a very tricky phase at that time,

01:31that should I go right now, should I take it deep?

01:35So, I think that was one learning for me also,

01:37like to just stay there,

01:38you know, towards the end,

01:39we always take it deep.

01:40But yeah, I was praying,

01:42I was talking to God,

01:44because I feel that I have a personal relationship with Him,

01:47and when I cannot carry myself,

01:49He always carries me.

01:50You know, I honestly feel,

01:55whichever team would have come in the semi-finals,

01:59it would have been the same reply from our team,

02:01because we don't want to play the team,

02:05we want to play the moment,

02:07and win that moment.

02:08We want to play the match,

02:09and win the match,

02:10and whichever team would come,

02:12I think our reply would be the same,

02:13we would play with the same passion,

02:15same aggression,

02:16we would play to win this match for India.

02:18Hi, Jimmy.

02:20So, first of all,

02:21it was very, very tough out there,

02:23like the conditions,

02:24I think the humidity was really high.

02:26And, you know, during a chase,

02:28we've seen India, you know,

02:30lose a lot of wickets towards the end,

02:32and not keep up with the pressure,

02:33like against England we saw.

02:35And so, can you just talk about

02:37how you just kept your nerves,

02:39and what was the communication like,

02:41in the middle,

02:42and especially to play through that heat?

02:44And, you know,

02:46I think against Australia specifically,

02:47can you just tell us?

02:49Yeah, I think first,

02:50the first thing I'd answer is that,

02:52I have been a part of chases,

02:54I think,

02:55against Australia,

02:56almost three chases,

02:58where,

02:59we were going well,

03:00we got it to run a ball,

03:01and we lost from there.

03:02And, I think those moments taught me a lot,

03:05and I just wanted to be there to finish it off.

03:07Even the previous day,

03:08we had a group discussion,

03:10we were just saying,

03:11what all we could do better in this World Cup,

03:12we could do better in this World Cup.

03:13And, all I said was that,

03:15I want to be there till the end,

03:17and finish the game.

03:18Whether we're batting first,

03:19I know if I'm there,

03:20I can make a partnership,

03:21and, you know,

03:22get those 20-30 runs extra,

03:23because I run well,

03:24pick gaps,

03:25unusual gaps.

03:26And the second thing was,

03:27if we're chasing,

03:28then I want to make sure I won't take the team through.

03:30And, this just feels like a dream, actually.

03:33It just felt like,

03:34everything was such a set-up,

03:35because,

03:36the last month,

03:37wasn't the easiest,

03:38but,

03:39it just felt like a set-up,

03:41for this moment.

03:42So, yeah.

03:43Jamie,

03:44everyone dreams to win big matches for their country.

03:47It was a World Cup semi-final,

03:49against seven times champion Australia.

03:51And, your knock was,

03:53you know,

03:54the defining moment for India.

03:56How do you rate these innings?

03:57And, you were also riding on luck.

03:59So, how do you feel about,

04:01you know,

04:02and cashing those chances?

04:06I mean,

04:07how do I rate this innings?

04:08Actually,

04:09I have not sunk,

04:10let it sink in.

04:12All I would say was,

04:14I didn't play for my 100.

04:15I didn't play to prove a point at number 3.

04:17I didn't play for my 50.

04:18I just played to make sure India win.

04:20At that board,

04:21I wanted to see India win,

04:24at the end.

04:25And, that was my only motivation.

04:27And, I think when,

04:28when you have that thought process,

04:30I think God also favours you.

04:32You know,

04:33you do it for the team,

04:34you don't do it for yourself.

04:35And, I think I have always played my cricket that way.

04:37And, I,

04:39I am short for words actually.

04:42Yes.

04:43Hi Jemi.

04:44Well played today.

04:46And,

04:47you said yourself,

04:48you have been against Australia in chases like this.

04:51Where,

04:52coincidentally,

04:53every time a Harman wicket falls,

04:54you know,

04:55India tend to lost,

04:56to lose out at the death.

04:58Pretty similar,

04:59to what happened today as well.

05:01And,

05:02just want to know,

05:03in that moment,

05:04what was that internal dialogue like,

05:06between you and yourself?

05:07What was that internal dialogue like?

05:09Yeah.

05:10Actually,

05:11when you said that,

05:12I remember at that point,

05:13I also felt that way.

05:14Because,

05:15and,

05:16I was telling Haridi that,

05:17we both have to finish it.

05:18We can't leave it for the end.

05:19Just because we are set.

05:20And,

05:21we know we can take it through.

05:22And,

05:23when that happened,

05:24but actually,

05:25it,

05:26it wasn't a blessing.

05:27But,

05:28it's like a blessing in disguise for me.

05:29Because,

05:30I was kind of losing,

05:31my focus,

05:32because of my tiredness.

05:33But,

05:34when Haridi got out,

05:35I think that,

05:36added more responsibility to me.

05:37That,

05:38okay,

05:39I need to be here.

05:40Okay,

05:41she's out,

05:42I'll score for her.

05:43And,

05:44I think that,

05:45again,

05:46got me in the right zone.

05:47Then,

05:48I started just,

05:49you know,

05:50sensibly playing.

05:51Congrats on the win.

05:54Just talk about the last month.

05:55As you said,

05:56it's not been easy.

05:57You've,

05:58missed out on a game as well.

05:59Your first ODA World Cup.

06:00Could you just talk about the emotions of it all?

06:02Yeah,

06:03I'll be,

06:04very vulnerable here.

06:05Because,

06:06I know if,

06:07someone is watching this,

06:08might be going through the same thing.

06:09And,

06:10that's my whole purpose of saying it.

06:11Because,

06:12nobody likes to talk about their weakness.

06:13I was going through a lot of anxiety,

06:15at the starting,

06:16of the tournament.

06:17And,

06:18it was a lot,

06:19you know,

06:20before few games also,

06:22I used to call my mum and cry.

06:24Cry the entire time.

06:26Let it all out.

06:27Because,

06:28when,

06:29when you're going through,

06:30anxiety,

06:31you just feel numb.

06:32You don't know what to do.

06:33You're trying to be yourself.

06:34And,

06:35also,

06:36in this time,

06:37my mum,

06:38my dad,

06:39they supported me a lot.

06:40And,

06:41also,

06:42there was,

06:43who,

06:44I think,

06:45almost every day,

06:46I've cried in front,

06:47almost every day,

06:48I've cried in front of her.

06:49I,

06:50I think,

06:51later I was joking,

06:52I said,

06:53you don't come in front of me,

06:54I'll start crying.

06:55But,

06:56she checked on me,

06:57every single day.

06:58And,

07:00yeah,

07:01and,

07:02that was Priti,

07:03who helped me.

07:04She also knew what I was going through.

07:06Few of the next sessions,

07:07she was just standing there.

07:08Even yesterday she came,

07:09she just stood there,

07:10just because,

07:11didn't,

07:12didn't say much.

07:13she just knows that her presence is important for me.

07:15There's been Radha,

07:16who's,

07:17you know,

07:18always been there,

07:19taking care of me.

07:20Like,

07:21I'm so blessed to have friends,

07:22I can call family.

07:23That,

07:24I didn't have to go through it alone.

07:26And,

07:27it's okay to ask for help.

07:28And,

07:29that's what happened.

07:30And,

07:31my mum also,

07:32you know,

07:33she's as emotional as I am.

07:34But,

07:35she went through a lot,

07:36my family went through a lot.

07:37But,

07:38everyone stood by me,

07:39and,

07:40believed in me when I didn't,

07:41when I couldn't.

07:42And,

07:43the anxiety thing.

07:44Then,

07:45I was dropped from the team.

07:46That really hit me.

07:47And,

07:48you know,

07:49when you dropped,

07:50you have a lot of doubts,

07:51because,

07:52I always want to contribute to the team.

07:53But,

07:54that day,

07:55I couldn't do much sitting out.

07:56And,

07:57then,

07:58when you come back in,

07:59it's a lot more pressure,

08:01with everything that was happening in the past month.

08:04But,

08:05sometimes,

08:06all you need to do is just hang in there,

08:08and,

08:09things fall into place.

08:10So,

08:11I think,

08:12I'm very grateful for the,

08:14people who believed in me,

08:15when,

08:16I couldn't,

08:17and were there for me,

08:18and understood me.

08:19Because,

08:20I couldn't do this on my own.

08:21I'm grateful to Jesus,

08:22because,

08:23just,

08:24His presence,

08:25and,

08:26reading the bible,

08:27just,

08:28encouraged me,

08:29in my,

08:30tough times.

08:31And,

08:32the bible says that,

08:33weeping endures for a night.

08:34But,

08:35joy comes in the morning.

08:36And,

08:37today,

08:38joy came.

08:39We'll take this,

08:40last two questions.

08:41Jamie,

08:42is this your greatest cricketing moment ever?

08:45And,

08:46how special is this,

08:47considering that you missed out on the 22 World Cup?

08:50And,

08:51was that the point where you resolved that,

08:52you know,

08:53you're going to come back with a bang?

08:54Because,

08:55you've seen your career go up and up from there.

08:57To be honest,

08:59when I was dropped,

09:00obviously,

09:01when I came into this World Cup,

09:03being dropped the last World Cup,

09:05I wanted to,

09:06come out there,

09:07and,

09:08not prove a point,

09:09but just do things that my team wins.

09:11I kept reminding myself,

09:12that it was very easy to get into that mindset,

09:14and that mindset never has helped me.

09:16But,

09:17I think,

09:18I think,

09:19today,

09:20today,

09:21not just today,

09:22but,

09:23from the last few games,

09:24all I thought about was,

09:25because,

09:27I started off,

09:28I didn't start off well,

09:29you know,

09:30things just kept getting worse and worse.

09:31First,

09:32I was dropped,

09:33off the previous World Cup.

09:34Then,

09:35I'm going in,

09:36got out on zero in the first match.

09:38Went in next match,

09:39got a great start,

09:40couldn't convert it.

09:41Again,

09:42getting out on zero,

09:43then getting a 30,

09:44then being dropped.

09:45So,

09:46just,

09:47when I felt okay,

09:48now it's going to happen,

09:49now it's going to,

09:50things just got worse and worse.

09:51So,

09:52this knock is very special for me,

09:54because,

09:55of everything I went through.

09:56And,

09:57just to come out here,

09:58do it in front of my,

09:59family,

10:00do it in front of my team,

10:01do it for the team,

10:02do it in front of,

10:03my people,

10:04Nabi Mumbai,

10:05for,

10:06for the crowd.

10:07I think it was,

10:08it,

10:09would be,

10:10so far,

10:11my best knock.

10:12I'm saving one more for the finals.

10:13Last one.

10:16Hi, Jemi.

10:17Five minutes,

10:18that's all I want to know from you.

10:19Those five minutes,

10:20the thought that you had,

10:21when you came to know,

10:22you will be batting at three,

10:23and the time you walked out,

10:24what went through your mind,

10:25in those five minutes?

10:26Um,

10:27I was kind of prepared for it,

10:29when I thought that,

10:30okay,

10:31maybe the score is there,

10:32they might send me.

10:34So,

10:35when that,

10:36when that notice came,

10:37I wasn't like,

10:38unaware,

10:39I was ready for it.

10:40So,

10:41but I just,

10:42gave myself,

10:43you know,

10:44some time.

10:45I was in the shower,

10:46I took my ice bath,

10:47first I asked,

10:48then they said,

10:49it's the same order.

10:50Then they sent a message again,

10:51and they said,

10:52okay,

10:53you are going to go now.

10:54So,

10:55I said,

10:56okay,

10:57but I was in the shower,

10:58at that time,

10:59I just freshened up,

11:00I ate something,

11:01because I had not eaten.

11:02And,

11:03yeah,

11:04I think,

11:05once I walked in there,

11:06I just thought of,

11:07how would I play for a Mumbai team?

11:09When I lead Mumbai,

11:10how would I do it there?

11:11Because,

11:12I don't know whoever comes in from there,

11:13what would I do?

11:14And,

11:15I know how important this match is,

11:16and I wanted to be there to finish it off.

11:18So,

11:19all I did was,

11:20you know,

11:21just kept telling myself,

11:22just stand,

11:23just stand here,

11:24just stand here,

11:25amazing things can happen towards the end,

11:26you just,

11:27give God a chance,

11:28just stand here,

11:29you never know what can happen towards the end of the match.

11:31And then whenever thoughts were coming,

11:33like,

11:34you know,

11:35when I reached my 50,

11:36when I reached my 100,

11:37I didn't celebrate,

11:38because,

11:39at that moment,

11:40I thought of it,

11:41I looked at a hotel right here,

11:42and I said,

11:43tomorrow morning,

11:44what would make me happier?

11:45Would it be a 50?

11:46Would it be a 100?

11:47No,

11:48it would be India winning.

11:49And,

11:50I want to wake up with that,

11:51I want to sleep with that smile,

11:52ki,

11:53we are playing the finals,

11:54and I'm waking up to get ready for a finals.

11:56So,

11:57I think that kept me motivated too.

11:58Thank you everyone,

11:59thank you a lot.

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