India batter Jemimah Rodrigues has revealed how a timely phone call from cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar played a crucial role in helping her stay focused after one of the most memorable innings of her career during the Women’s ODI World Cup. Rodrigues was the star of India’s historic semifinal victory against Australia, producing a sensational unbeaten 127 in Navi Mumbai to guide her team past the six-time world champions.
The innings not only ended Australia’s dominance in the tournament but also helped India reach the final, where they eventually lifted their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title. While the knock brought widespread praise and attention, Rodrigues admitted that the emotional high of the achievement could have easily become a distraction ahead of the final. That was when Tendulkar’s advice proved invaluable.
Speaking to JioHotstar, Jemimah Rodrigues recalled how the legendary batter contacted her coach, Prashant Shetty, and shared a message that helped her reset mentally. “Sachin sir called my coach and said he understood that the last few days had been special after the innings against Australia and the joy of beating them. But he reminded me that the job was not finished and that we still had a World Cup final to win,” Rodrigues said.
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According to the Indian batter, Tendulkar encouraged her to forget the semifinal heroics and approach the final with a fresh mindset.
“He told me to start from zero again. That message really helped me. It made me realise that what you achieved in the previous game doesn’t guarantee success in the next one. Every match is a new challenge,” she added.
Sachin Tendulkar urged me to start from zero after ODI WC semifinal knock against Australia: Jemimah Rodrigueshttps://t.co/UbIMW0479K
— Economic Times (@EconomicTimes) June 10, 2026
India eventually completed their dream campaign by defeating South Africa in the final. While Rodrigues played a key role throughout the tournament, opener Shafali Verma delivered a match-winning all-round performance in the title clash.
Shafali scored a brilliant 87 runs and also picked up two wickets to help India secure the historic triumph. The aggressive opener later revealed that a motivational voice note from her father inspired her before the biggest match of her career.
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“My father told me to give everything on the field and make sure it was written that Shafali Verma helped India win the World Cup,” she said. Now, with the Women’s T20 World Cup around the corner, India will look to carry that winning momentum into their opening clash against Pakistan at Edgbaston as they chase another global title.
