Much ahead of expectations Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 counter opener Pakistan In Birmingham, India tends to Jemima Rodrigues She spoke about the pivotal, behind-the-scenes moment that ignited India’s history girl Women’s ODI World Cup victory last year. Rodrigues revealed how the legendary phone call came just in time Sachin Tendulkar provided the final psychological reset immediately before the monumental final against South Africa.
How did Sachin Tendulkar’s promotion affect Jemimah Rodrigues?
India’s road to ultimate glory took a lifetime from Rodrigues. Jemimah smashed a magnificent unbeaten 127 in a high-stakes semi-final clash against the world-dominant Australians in Navi Mumbai. The spectacular knock single-handedly knocked out the tournament favourites, sent shockwaves through the cricketing world and sparked an unprecedented wave of public attention.
However, the sheer emotional weight of victory threatened to become a distraction. Reflecting on the ramifications of this career-defining performance, Rodrigues admitted to being overwhelmed by the sudden outpouring of praise and celebration.
“Sachin sir called my coach Prashant Shetty, asked him to tell me that he understands that the last few days have meant a lot to me – the big blow to Australia in the semi-final, the joy of beating them”, Rodrigues shared in an interview with JioHotstar.
Recognizing the immense pressure on a young prospect, Master Blaster offered some invaluable wisdom on how to deal with adrenaline after a win.
“He reminded that the work is not over yet. We still had a final to win. He said ‘try to put it aside and start from scratch’. This post really helped me get my mind back. I realized that what you did before will not win you the next game. You have to approach every match as a new beginning. This advice from a legend gave me a lot of clarity before the finalshe added.
Tendulkar’s intervention was masterfully effective. By teaching the youngster to mentally erase his previous success and approach the final with a clean slate, the cricket icon ensured that India’s brightest talent remained grounded when it mattered most.
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Shafali Verma’s dynamic double won the Women’s ODI World Cup
While Tendulkar’s mentorship anchored Rodrigues, he was inclined Shafali Verma which provides an explosive firecracker in the final against South Africa. Verma put in a superb all-round performance, scoring an 87-run victory before racing to crucial bowling figures of 2/36 to decisively seal India’s historic silverware.
Like Rodrigues, Verma drew his inspiration from a deeply personal source. Her father’s motivational pep talk acted as her catalyst for the spectacular scene.
“We had two days off before the final. My father sent me a voice note, said, “Just work hard. Do your best on the field and it should be written that Shafali Verma helped India win the World Cup. That 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 safely in their trophy cabinet, the reigning world champions are turning the page. The women in blue are currently optimizing their latest tactical plans as they move into the shortest format of the game. India will begin their Women’s T20 World Cup campaign at Edgbaston in Birmingham this Sunday, renewing their bitter, historic rivalry against Pakistan. Driven by an elite mindset instilled by legendary mentors and close family support, this fearless Indian team looks poised to build a definitive cricketing dynasty.
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This article was originally published here WomenCricket.coma Cricket Times company.
