‘Kohli’s words were ringing in my ears’ - Jemimah Rodrigues recalls chat that inspired her World Cup semi-final knock

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Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues has revealed that former Indian captain Virat Kohli’s words about his match-winning knock against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup in Melbourne were ringing in her ears

during her game-changing innings at the Women’s World Cup, where she guided India to the final with an unbeaten 127 against Australia.

India successfully chased down 339 as Rodrigues put together a 167-run partnership for the third wicket with captain Harmanpreet Kaur (89), completing the highest successful run chase in women’s ODI history. Kohli had earlier steered India to victory over arch-rivals Pakistan with an unbeaten 83 off 53 balls in the 2022 T20 World Cup. At one stage, India were 31/4 while chasing 160, but the veteran held his nerve and delivered a match-winning performance for his team.

“I once spoke to Virat Kohli about this. I asked him about that Melbourne knock. I said, ‘You know, this knock is something else… It was a crazy knock. What was going on in your head? How did such a knock even happen?’ What he told me was, ‘You know Jemimah, even if I want to take credit for that knock, I can’t. If you ask me to replicate that knock, I can’t. I was just grateful that God chose me at that moment to be the person to take India through.’,” said Rodrigues in an interview for Breakfast With Champions.

“And when that World Cup semifinal happened, I just remembered what he said. Because I didn’t change anything in my practice. My preparation was the same. Everything was the same, but it’s just… you know, you are just chosen for that moment. And things just happen. I think that was one moment for me where I can’t take credit,” she added.

Now, Rodrigues will lead Delhi Capitals Women in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, with her first assignment set to be against Mumbai Indians Women on January 10 in Navi Mumbai. Delhi Capitals Women have reached the WPL final three times but have not been able to lift the trophy even once.