Ahead of the highly anticipated Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 opener against Pakistan in Birmingham, Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues has opened up about a pivotal, behind-the-scenes moment that fueled India’s historic maiden Women’s ODI World Cup triumph last year. Rodrigues revealed how a timely phone call from the legendary Sachin Tendulkar provided the ultimate psychological reset right before the monumental final against South Africa.
How Sachin Tendulkar’s encouragement impacted Jemimah Rodrigues?
India’s road to the ultimate glory was paved by an innings of a lifetime from Rodrigues. In a high-stakes semifinal clash against the world-dominating Australians in Navi Mumbai, Jemimah smashed a magnificent, unbeaten 127. The spectacular knock single-handedly dismantled the tournament favorites, sending shockwaves through the cricketing world and triggering an unprecedented wave of public euphoria and media attention.
However, the sheer emotional gravity of the victory threatened to become a distraction. Reflecting on the aftermath of that career-defining performance, Rodrigues confessed to being overwhelmed by the sudden influx of praise and celebration.
“Sachin sir called my coach Prashant Shetty, He asked him to tell me that he understood the past couple of days had been a lot for me—the big knock against Australia in the semifinal, the joy of beating them,” Rodrigues shared in an interview with JioHotstar.
Recognizing the immense pressure on the young batter, the Master Blaster offered invaluable wisdom on how to handle post-victory adrenaline.
“He reminded me that the job was not over yet. We still had a final to win. He said, ‘try to put that aside and start from zero’. That message really helped me reset my mind. I understood that what you did before does not win you the next game. You must treat every match as a new start. That advice from a legend gave me so much clarity before the final,” she added.
Tendulkar’s intervention proved masterfully effective. By teaching the youngster to mentally erase her previous success and approach the final with a clean slate, the cricketing icon ensured India’s brightest talent remained grounded when it mattered most.
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Shafali Verma’s dynamic double in Women’s ODI World Cup triumph
While Tendulkar’s mentorship anchored Rodrigues, it was opening batter Shafali Verma who provided the explosive fireworks in the final against South Africa. Verma delivered an outstanding all-round performance, blistering a match-winning 87 runs before chipping in with crucial bowling figures of 2/36 to decisively seal India’s historic silverware.
Like Rodrigues, Verma drew her inspiration from a deeply personal source. A motivational pep talk from her father acted as her catalyst on the grand stage.
“We had two off days before the final. My dad sent me a voice note, he said, ‘Just work hard. Give your best on the field and it has to be in writing that Shafali Verma helped India win the World Cup’. That voice note gave me extra fire. I knew I had to perform not just for myself, but for him and for the team,” Verma recalled.
With the ODI World Cup securely in their trophy cabinet, the reigning world champions are turning the page. The Women in Blue are currently optimizing their final tactical blueprints as they transition into the shortest format of the game. India will launch their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign this Sunday at Edgbaston in Birmingham, renewing their fierce, historic rivalry against Pakistan. Driven by the elite mindset instilled by legendary mentors and tight-knit family support, this fearless Indian squad looks primed to build a definitive cricketing dynasty.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
