Sachin Tendulkar’s ‘Start from Zero’ Advice Was a Wake-Up Call, Says Jemimah Rodrigues
After her match-winning unbeaten 127 against Australia in the Women’s ODI World Cup semifinal in Navi Mumbai, Jemimah Rodrigues said cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar called her coach, Prashant Shetty, to offer support and acknowledge the role she played in India’s victory. Rodrigues described the gesture as meaningful and said it helped her manage the emotional impact of the high-pressure performance.
Rodrigues delivered one of the standout innings of the tournament, helping India defeat a strong Australian side in the semifinal last year. Her unbeaten 127 was central to India’s win and set up a place in the final. Speaking to JioHotstar, Rodrigues said Tendulkar’s message reached her through her coach soon after the match. According to her, the legendary batter praised the effort but also reminded her that the job was not yet complete because a final still awaited India.
Rodrigues said the message helped her reset mentally and avoid getting carried away by the emotional weight of the semifinal triumph. She recalled that Tendulkar’s advice was to set aside the previous match and begin again from zero. The guidance, she said, brought her back to the right mindset and allowed her to focus on the next challenge rather than dwell on the past result.
She added that a victory in one match does not guarantee success in the next, and that every game must be treated as a fresh start. Rodrigues said that lesson gave her clarity ahead of the final and helped her approach the team’s next assignment with a calm and disciplined mindset.
The interaction highlighted the influence of Tendulkar’s words on younger players and the emotional support that can come from a message delivered at the right time. For Rodrigues, the call was not only an acknowledgement of her performance but also a reminder of the professionalism required in tournament cricket, where momentum can shift quickly and each stage demands renewed focus.
Her semifinal innings remains one of the defining moments of India’s campaign, both for the quality of the batting display and for the confidence it gave the team. The account also showed how experienced voices in cricket continue to shape and inspire the next generation, especially in moments of major pressure.
