I was going through a lot of anxiety at the start of the tournament. I used to call my mom and cry the entire time, just to let it all out. Because when you are going through anxiety, you don’t know what to do. You just feel numb. You are trying to be yourself.” When a star female cricketer like Jemimah Rodrigues openly talks about mental health and shows her vulnerable side in front of everyone, it’s something that inspires not only cricket fans but each one of us.
In the semifinals of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, Jemimah created a historic moment by making 127 runs in 134 balls. This score not only highlights a nationwide victory against Australia, but her personal victory against all the mental health challenges and pressure she faced all these times. And the positive thing nowadays is that film stars and star athletes are expressing their journey, whether good or bad, very openly.
Jemimah Rodrigues Personal Challenges To National Victory
Jemimah Rodrigues’ personal struggle to give her best shots in the women’s World Cup 2025 is a journey of vulnerabilities, strength, and resilience. Let’s understand this in detail:
- Childhood Interests Towards Cricket: Born on September 5, 2000, in Mumbai, her father was a school cricket coach, which truly influenced her since childhood. She started playing cricket at the age of 4. Her parents also supported her in her sports journey, allowing her to get better access to sports.
- Witnessed The 2017 Women’s Worldcup: At the age of 16, Jemimah witnessed how the women’s cricket team was cheered at the Mumbai airport when they returned from London after losing to England in the 2017 Women’s World Cup. When Jemimah saw how fans were cheering female cricketers even after defeat, she made a promise to herself that one day she would lead her team to victory.
- Professional Recognition And Setbacks: Jemimah started playing in domestic cricket at the age of 17 and received a prestigious award as the best domestic Women’s cricketer. Despite this, she faced some setbacks, including a dip in form, losing her place in the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2022.
- Her Battles With Anxiety: She openly spoke about her battles with anxiety and self-doubt, especially in 2022. She said that she cried every day in front of family and friends and felt things were going worse, no matter how much she tried.
- Positive Support System And Her Comeback In 2025: Now she has gained her place back in the team, and she has also shared how much she has received from her friends and family constantly. This helps her build her confidence in herself and keep believing in herself. She also mentioned how her mindset was set for winning for India, which truly kept her motivated.
What Can Be Learned From Jemimah’s Story?
What we learn from our female cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues is more than just a message. It’s a clear sign to take care of our mental health seriously, as anyone could be going through anxiety and self-doubt in their life, just like she did. And in such situations, it is easy to get carried away by our negative emotions.
Therefore, just like Jemimah highlighted the importance of speaking out and seeking help, we also should seek help as much as possible from our loved ones. If you feel stuck in life or any mental health challenge is making you stuck, seek help from a professional counsellor as soon as possible.