Defiant fightbacks and leaving it all out there for the team is something Jemimah Rodrigues has regularly done for her school, St Joseph’s Convent in Bandra West, and for Mumbai cricket. And in her backyard in Navi Mumbai, on the biggest stage, she got the better of the mighty Aussies Thursday and helped India take a monumental leap into the World Cup final. Jemimah’s first coach and father, Ivan, who was there on the sidelines of the emotionally charged game with his wife, came up with a biblical David vs Goliath reference to describe the tense battle between the tall Aussie bowlers and his daughter.
“I always believed in her capabilities,” the proud father Ivan tells The Indian Express. “That David vs Goliath story is so apt — the little David, Jemimah, proved herself under pressure against the mighty Goliath, the Aussies. A lot of hard work has gone into her preparation right from her childhood . It was God’s favor and kindness that this victory came at the right time and against the strongest team,” he says, urging that she needs to battle once more for India on Sunday.
Growing up in an all-girls school, Rodrigues was introduced to spirituality early in life and, as she matured from a quiet young girl to a confident woman, her faith in the Almighty only deepened.
“In class, she was a very quiet student and she knew the purpose of her life,” says her former principal Sister Blanche. “She was good in studies, so that’s why she could manage both that and her games practice. She would adjust her exam time, her study time, and she was very much like God-fearing, and her whole mind was trusting in the Lord that God is with me, and he will bless me and that’s why she was able to manage. It was a hectic time, but she was able to cope with all that in school.”
Like every active Bandraite, Jemimah dabbled at cricket, football and basketball, but eventually, it was with a broad wooden bat that she brought the best out of her personality, on the field. “She played cricket and football, in which she was very good, along with hockey, basketball, as well as throwball and volleyball. She had a passion for all different games. But then she made the choice for cricket,” her former school principal says.
Sport also turned a very introverted girl into a happy, outgoing personality. “As I said in the beginning, she was very quiet, but afterwards, when she started getting into the game and going for different matches slowly, slowly her personality also developed. At the end, in the 10th Standard, she was appointed the school games captain,” says Sister Blanche.
Jemimah with her former principal Sister Blanche. (Special Arrangement)
“Slowly, she became so bold and so victorious. The child who was so quiet and hid herself, you know, now she’s able to face anyone,” Sister Blanche says, adding Jemimah recently revisited her alma mater and left a tremendous impression on students, as she grew in confidence with the India crest.
“Quite a big difference between what she (Jemimah) was in her school and what she is today,” says Sister Blanche.
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Cricket wasn’t smooth sailing, but the Bandra sporting spirit wouldn’t let Jemimah give up. Suffering a setback when she was dropped from the Indian team for the match against England at Indore had left her dejected. But a call with her coach Prashant Shetty the following day was the best thing that could have happened to her. The duo thought up a three-stage plan.
“She was really upset at being out of the team. But we set three small goals. The first was to prepare to the best of her ability. Because she could still get a look-in. And we were not out of the tournament anyway, so that was our biggest motivating factor. The second thing was, whenever you get a chance, the walk — you have to start well. And then, the first eight to ten balls, you have to play compactly. That is what we decided. We had three simple goals, which she needed to achieve. And that is how we started,” Shetty says.
Jemimah’s father has urged her to remember that the final is still to be won. “As a coach I have always waited for such a day. I am happy to see Jemi’s progress but I feel the job is still to be done and finished. One more hurdle to cross for the world Cup,” he says.
