“Felt Anxious During My First ODI World Cup Game,” Says Jemimah Rodrigues

Jemimah Rodrigues Opens Up on Battling Anxiety During ODI World Cup.

India batter Jemimah Rodrigues has shared the personal struggle she faced with anxiety throughout India’s ODI World Cup campaign. Speaking to Cricbuzz, she revealed how the pressure of the tournament affected her both on and off the field.

From the very first match, Jemimah admitted she was “dealing with a lot of anxiety” and often couldn’t understand or control it. Even tasks she usually enjoyed, like fielding, became stressful. “I started getting anxious even in my fielding thinking, ‘Now that I’ve not scored, I need to do something special,’” she said. “I was not able to enjoy my fielding.”

Behind the scenes, Jemimah experienced frequent emotional breakdowns and felt numb during games. “Someone who’s going through it only will understand,” she said. “At that time, you just feel numb. You can’t do anything.”

The turning point came when she decided to open up to friends and family. Support from teammates like Arundhati Reddy, who checked on her daily, and Smriti Mandhana, who offered comfort, helped her process the emotions. The strongest support came from her mother, who reassured her, “Even if you want to leave the World Cup and come back home, I’m okay. I’ll fight with everyone for it. You being happy is what matters to me.”

Moments before India’s high-stakes match against Pakistan, Jemimah broke down but found solace in this unconditional support. She also credited a visit to a church with Arundhati Reddy and a small conversation with Smriti Mandhana for helping her regain calm before one of the biggest games of her career.

Jemimah’s candid revelation highlights the mental health struggles athletes often face but rarely discuss. By sharing her journey — the anxiety, the breakdowns, and the recovery — she sends a powerful message: asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Ultimately, it was her support system — friends, teammates, and family — that helped her reconnect with herself and return to the game she loves.