Deepika Padukone applauds Jemimah Rodrigues for sharing her mental health journey after India's semifinal win

On Friday, Deepika Padukone took to Instagram Stories to commend Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues for opening up about her battle with anxiety. Rodrigues played a pivotal role in India’s thrilling Women’s World Cup 2025 semifinal victory against Australia in Navi Mumbai on Thursday, earning the Player of the Match award for her unbeaten 127-run innings off 134 balls. Following the match, Jemimah shared her struggles with anxiety, inspiring fans with her honesty and courage.

 

Deepika Padukone applauds Jemimah Rodrigues for sharing her mental health journey after India's semifinal win

 

Deepika, who has been vocal about mental health in her own life, reposted a video of Jemimah speaking candidly about her experiences. She wrote, “Thank you, Jemimah Rodrigues, for your vulnerability and for sharing your story,” accompanied by a folded hands emoji, praising the cricketer for showing strength in being open about her challenges.

 

Jemimah Rodrigues Speaks About Anxiety

 

During a post-match interaction, Jemimah opened up about her mental health journey throughout the tournament. She recalled moments of breaking down in front of her mother and friends, and expressed gratitude for the support she received from her teammates. “I’ll be very vulnerable here because I know if someone watching this is going through the same thing, that’s my whole purpose for sharing,” Jemimah said. “Nobody likes to talk about their weakness. I was going through a lot of anxiety at the start of the tournament. Before a few games, I used to call my mum and just cry, cry the entire time. When you’re going through anxiety, you feel numb, unsure of what to do, and are just trying to be yourself.”

 

Jemimah mentioned the support of her teammates, including Arundhati Reddy, Smriti Mandhana, and Radha Yadav, who were always there to check in or simply provide silent encouragement. She added, “I’m so blessed to have friends I can call family. I didn’t have to go through it alone, and it’s okay to ask for help.”

 

She also reflected on the emotional impact of being dropped from the team earlier in the tournament, saying, “Being dropped really hit me. You start doubting yourself because you always want to contribute to the team. But coming back brought even more pressure.”

 

Record-Breaking Semifinal Performance

 

Jemimah’s unbeaten 127-run knock helped India chase a record 339 runs—the highest-ever chase in the history of women’s ODIs—winning the match with five wickets in hand and nine balls to spare. India will now face South Africa in the final on Sunday, November 2.

 

By sharing her journey with anxiety, Jemimah Rodrigues not only highlighted the importance of mental health in sports but also inspired countless fans and athletes to embrace vulnerability and seek support when needed.

 

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