Jemimah Rodrigues admitted 'I can’t do this' mid-innings, credits star player for keeping her going during historic chase

Jemimah Rodrigues revealed she almost gave up during India’s record World Cup semi-final chase against Australia, until Deepti Sharma’s steady support reignited her belief.

Jemimah Rodrigues (Image Credit: BCCI Women]

Jemimah Rodrigues’ magnificent century against Australia in the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup semi-final will go down as one of the most inspiring knocks in Indian cricket history. But behind her confident strokeplay and composure was a quiet storm of self-doubt. After the match, Rodrigues admitted that midway through the tense run chase, she almost lost belief in herself, until her partner, Deepti Sharma, helped her rediscover it. The revelation turned a record-breaking performance into a story of courage, composure, and friendship under pressure.

When doubt met determination

Rodrigues revealed that during the middle overs of the chase, the mounting pressure and the enormity of the target briefly got the better of her. She told Deepti Sharma she wasn’t sure she could carry India through. But instead of panic, Deepti offered calm reassurance, reminding Jemimah to stay in the moment, play her natural game, and trust her instincts. That conversation, simple yet powerful, changed everything.

Also read: Jemimah Rodrigues’ emotional hug with parents steals the show after match-winning knock vs Australia

From that point, Rodrigues’ body language shifted. Every boundary she struck carried renewed belief, and her partnership with Deepti steadied India after a few quick wickets. What looked like a nervous chase suddenly transformed into a composed pursuit. The two stitched together crucial runs, blunting Australia’s bowling attack and silencing a packed crowd that had sensed an Indian collapse.

After the match, Rodrigues spoke about how Deepti’s words grounded her. “When I was inside and around 85, when I was batting, I was really tired. I had spoken to Deepti at that time. I told Deepti, ‘You know Deepu, please keep talking to me, I can’t do this' Every single ball from there, Deepti was cheering and encouraging me. Every ball, she even sacrificed her wicket for my one run. And then she told me, when she was walking back, she was like, 'Koi na, tu match khatam kar ke aa. (No worries, you finish the match)," said Jemimah in her dressing room speech.

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Where to watch the match?

Cricket fans in India can watch the South Africa Women vs India Women World Cup 2025 finals on November 2, live on JioHotstar, accessible via OTTplay Premium.

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