Indian players cite messages in 2025 women's ODI win

Indian cricketers Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma have revealed the personal messages that helped them secure India's historic victory in the 2025 ICC Women's ODI World Cup. The players shared the motivational stories as the reigning champions prepare to defend another title in the upcoming Women's T20 World Cup.

Rodrigues, whose unbeaten 127 in the semifinal against Australia was pivotal to India's progress, said batting legend Sachin Tendulkar intervened to help her refocus before the final. She explained that Tendulkar contacted her coach, Prashant Shetty, with a crucial message in the days following her career-defining innings.

"Sachin sir called my coach," Rodrigues said. "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, the joy of beating them. But he reminded me that the job was not over yet. We still had a final to win. He said, try to put that aside and start from zero."

Rodrigues credited that advice with resetting her mindset. "That message really helped me reset my mind," she said. "I understood that what you did before does not win you the next game. You must treat every match as a new...