India batter Jemimah Rodrigues revealed on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, that a timely intervention from legendary cricketer Sachin Tendulkar helped her “reset” during the high-stakes conclusion of the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup.
Speaking to JioHotstar, Rodrigues detailed how Tendulkar reached out to her coach, Prashant Shetty, after she played a match-winning innings in the semi-final against Australia. His advice arrived as India prepared for their third appearance in a 50-over World Cup final, a match they eventually won to secure the championship.
The intervention followed a historic semi-final performance in Navi Mumbai, where Rodrigues scored an unbeaten 127 off 134 balls. Her knock, which included 14 fours, anchored a successful chase of 341 runs — the highest ever in Women’s ODIs and the largest in the history of ODI World Cup knockouts.
Despite the euphoria of defeating the dominant Australians by five wickets, Rodrigues admitted to feeling overwhelmed by the emotions and the sudden surge of attention surrounding her performance.
This psychological shift is a common challenge for elite athletes dealing with sudden success. While Manchester United Secure ÂŁ100m Deal to Reshape Defense focuses on the long-term structural needs of a club, Tendulkar’s advice focused on the immediate mental discipline required to close out a tournament.
He recognized that the job was far from finished despite the historic “innings of a lifetime” produced in the semi-final.
Sachin Tendulkar’s message to start from zero in the final
The message delivered by Sachin Tendulkar was clear: past achievements do not guarantee future trophies. “Sachin sir called my coach Prashant Shetty,” Rodrigues explained. “He asked him to tell me that he understood the past couple of days had been a lot for me, the big knock against Australia in the semifinal, the joy of beating them.”
Rodrigues stated that Tendulkar urged her to compartmentalize the semi-final success to focus on the upcoming clash with South Africa. “He reminded me that the job was not over yet. We still had a final to win,” she said. “He said, ‘try to put that aside and start from zero’.
That message really helped me reset my mind.” This clarity helped her realize that every match is a new start.
The semi-final win was built on a 167-run partnership between Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who contributed 89 runs. However, Tendulkar’s advice ensured that the team’s leading scorers did not get ahead of themselves. This disciplined approach was essential as India sought to avoid a repeat of the 2017 final, where they fell short of the title after a narrow loss to England.
Shafali Verma’s motivation and the World Cup result
Rodrigues was not the only player drawing strength from external sources. Opening batter Shafali Verma shared that a voice note from her father served as a catalyst for her performance in the final. Verma’s father challenged her to ensure it was “in writing” that she helped India win the World Cup, a directive that gave her “extra fire” on the field.
The dual influence of personal family motivation and guidance from a national icon like Tendulkar proved decisive. Shafali Verma delivered an all-round masterclass in the final on November 2, 2025, scoring 87 runs and taking 2/36. This performance helped India Women defeat South Africa Women by 52 runs to claim the World Cup title.
Just as Fils Miami Semi and Cromwell Aintree Target Lead Latest News highlights the shifting focus in elite competition, the Indian squad’s ability to “reset” was the tournament’s turning point.
Looking ahead, the reigning ODI world champions are transitioning their focus to the shortest format. The team is currently preparing for the Women’s T20 World Cup, with an opening fixture scheduled against Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham this Sunday. Rodrigues believes her experience in 2025 has prepared her for a greater leadership role, stating she prefers to lead by actions and responsibility.
