‘God Will Fight for Me’ - Jemimah Rodrigues’ Moment of Faith

Navi Mumbai turned out to be a gem for Jemimah Rodrigues. She walked in under pressure and completely changed the game. Her unbeaten 127 carried India to the World Cup final.

India’s chase of 339 looked impossible when both openers fell early. The crowd went quiet for a moment. Then Rodrigues walked in at No. 3, eyes sharp but calm, as if she had made peace with pressure. What followed was a masterclass wrapped in emotion.

“I thought I was going to bat at No. 5,” she laughed later. “I was literally in the shower when they decided. Five minutes before I went in, I was told, you’re at three.”

That twist changed everything. By the time she settled in, Australia’s bowlers were the ones sweating. Her strokes weren’t just crisp, they carried intent. Drives pierced gaps, cuts found the ropes, and her running between the wickets never faltered. It was cricket with purpose and heart.

Rodrigues didn’t just bat. She seemed to talk herself through every ball. “I kept repeating a verse from the Bible toward the end,” she said. “I was tired and out of energy, but it reminded me to stand still, and God would fight for me.”

It wasn’t just about faith. It was about a fight. She was dropped earlier in the tournament against England. The same player who admitted she “cried almost every day” during a stretch of poor form. Yet here she was, anchoring the biggest chase in women’s cricket history. That one moment flipped everything.

Her partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur steadied nerves. Together, they added 167 runs, calculating every over, talking constantly, reminding each other what was possible. “Jemimah kept telling me how many runs were needed each over,” Harmanpreet said later. “Before I could even think, she already had the numbers. That’s how locked in she was.”

The scoreboard pressure was real. Required rate hovering near seven, fielders closing in, bowlers mixing pace and bounce. But Jemimah Rodrigues kept the innings breathing. When the crowd sensed momentum turning, their cheers grew louder, echoing across the stadium. You could feel the belief return.

As the winning runs came off her bat, Rodrigues looked up, eyes glistening. “It was hard to stay calm till the last ball,” she said. “When I saw ‘India win by five wickets,’ I just couldn’t hold it. Navi Mumbai has always been special. I couldn’t ask for more.”

Fans in the stands were praying, dancing, and cheering for her. It felt like a release after years of heartbreak in big games. The tension of the chase had melted into joy.

“She was incredible,” Harmanpreet added. “Her calculations, her calmness, her courage. That’s what took us home.”

For Jemimah Rodrigues, it was more than redemption. It was her belief and a lot of hard work. India now moves on to the final against South Africa. And if Rodrigues bats like this, who knows what’s next.