Jemimah soars to higher ground after beating anxiety and Australians

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“Lord, lift me up and let me stand,
By faith, on Heaven’s table land;
A higher plane than I have found;
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

This refrain of the 1898 hymn ‘I’m pressing on the upward way’ found its echo on Thursday night at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, as Jemimah Jessica Rodrigues found herself planted on higher ground. In a fairy-tale case, the 25-year-old Mumbaikar demonstrated sheer grit and gumption to script a memorable five-wicket win for India over seven-time and defending champions Australia in the second semifinal of the Women’s ODI World Cup. In the process, India made history by posting a record-chase in women ODIs. The earlier record was held by Australia who scored 331 against India at Visakhapatnam earlier this month.

Records come and go but what stays in the memory is the story behind those records. Not many gave India to chase down 338 and that too against Australia and in a World Cup game. In fact, Thursday’s win was the first one by India against Australia in 16 ODI World Cup games and the unlikely hero was a girl, who is by no means a power-hitter. Jemimah’s 134-ball unbeaten 127 was a classical knock which an artist like Rahul Dravid or a VVS Laxman would be immensely proud of.

The teary-eyed Jemimah’s post-match comments at the presentation ceremony struck a chord not only with the 34,651 spectators in the stadium but also with the millions who watched the game across the globe. The tears were flowing and the pain was no longer hidden but for 47 overs Jemimah bottled up all the pent-up frustrations and kept her eyes on taking the team over the ropes. When she came in to bat in the second over itself, it was no easy thing to do but the girl showed that she had nerves of steel and a resolve which wouldn’t bend.

“This is what mental toughness, killer instinct and true aggression look like. It’s about standing tall when adversity hits and backing yourself with belief. You will have doubts, anxiety and negative thoughts but champions win that internal battle, absorb pressure and stay unsatisfied until the team’s goal is achieved. Well done, Jemi. What a player. What a champion,” wrote VVS Laxman on his Instagram story.

Jemimah seemed to believe that she had a calling and that it was her day to make good the faith showed in her abilities by the team management. “I want to thank Jesus, could not do this on my own. I want to thank my mom, dad and coach and every single person who believed in me. It was really hard this last month, it feels like a dream and it still has not sunk in,” she said at the presentation ceremony.

It hasn’t been easy for the Mumbaikar of late and she minced no words in speaking from the heart. “Everything that happened so far, was a setup for this. Last year, I was dropped from the World Cup (T20). I was in good form. But things kept happening back-to-back, and could not control anything.

“I have almost cried every day through this tour. Not doing well mentally, going through anxiety. I knew I had to show up, and God took care of everything. Initially, I was just playing and I keep talking to myself. Towards the end, I was just quoting a scripture from the Bible – ‘to just stand still and that God will fight for me’. I just stood there and He fought for me. A lot inside me was left, but was trying to stay calm. Seeing India win by five wickets, I could not stop myself,” she added.

Jemimah had a mixed tournament until Thursday. A duck against Sri Lanka in the opening game was followed by 32 against Pakistan. But she was again dismissed for a zero against South Africa but managed to score 33 against Australia. This prompted the team management to drop her for the England game. This seems to have stung Jemimah badly. She responded with an unbeaten 76, batting at No.3, in the next game against New Zealand before she stamped her authority over the Australians with an unbeaten century on Thursday. A half-century and century, without being dismissed on both occasions, since being dropped speaks volumes about her mental frame. She rose like a phoenix when the team needed the most.

“Did not know I was batting at three. Was taking a shower, just told them to let me know. Five minutes before entering in, I was told I was batting at three. It was not about me, I wanted to win this match for India, and wanted to take this through (having lost crunch matches before). Today was not about my fifty or my hundred, it was about making India win,” she said.

“When Harry di (Harmanpreet) came, it was all about one good partnership. Towards the end, I was trying to push myself but was not able to. Deepti spoke to me every ball and kept encouraging me. When I cannot carry on, my teammates can encourage me. Cannot take credit for anything, I did not do anything (on my own),” said a humble Jemimah, who didn’t shy away from giving credit to her teammates.

Apart from her mom and dad, she also gives credit to teammates like Arundathi Reddy, Smriti Mandana and Radha Yadav for helping her cope with the anxiety she was going through. “I am blessed to have friends whom I can call family,” she said at the post match press conference.

“You held your nerves; you held the team. Bow down to this stupendous performance. You were just exceptional jemzuuu,” wrote India player Sneh Rana on her Instagram story.

The seeds for Thursday’s harvest was sown some eight years back. “Talking about the 2017 World Cup, when India played the finals at Lord’s, I was 16 and a half. I remember Mumbai Cricket Association had told all the members (the U-19 girls) to go to felicitate the girls and receive them at the airport. They were not expecting anyone to come so it was their responsibility to receive the team. And I remember at 5.30 we were at the airport and I had an Indian flag in my hand ready to welcome the team coming from England. The players were tired and exhausted as they were so close to the trophy but lost the final. Surprisingly, the whole airport was packed and they came out to see the crowd. They were shocked and went back immediately. They were not prepared for it. That time it was not normal to have crowds to receive women cricketers. That was the turning point for women’s cricket,” Jemimah had said in an earlier interview. It may also have been the time when she dreamed of donning the Indian colors and turning into a hero by winning the elusive Cup for the country.

Will it happen on Sunday remains to be seen but no matter what the result of the final is against South Africa, Jemimah has etched her name in the Hall of Fame.

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