By the time you read this column, you would have devoured at least 50 news reports about Jemimah Rodrigues and her recent heroics. We’d also know if our women in blue won the ODI World Cup. Irrespective of the result, and the many superstars who will shine bright during the final, it will be tough to forget Rodrigues’s spectacular contribution in the memorable semi-final against Australia last Thursday that took India to the final. But equally important was the no-holds-barred, raw emotions that were on display, while she celebrated with her teammates, family and later, at the press conference. Her openness to speak up about her internal struggles with self-doubt, stress levels, mental fragility and the pressure she had been experiencing for years was remarkable. The tears flowed and how! With it, we can only imagine the immense relief that she must have felt, having brought India one step closer to women’s cricketing glory.

While the mothership of opinion (social media) was raving and celebrating her exploits, and deservingly so, it was good to see a few big names across Bollywood (Deepika Padukone) and cricket (VVS Laxman) applaud her for openly speaking up about her battles with mental health. As captain Harmanpreet Kaur had once revealed in a dressing room video, “Jemi is already a senior on the team at the age of 25!” By now, it’s common knowledge that she made her India debut at 17 for a T20 match. Imagine the uphill task for the young cricketer: The ups and downs of being dropped from the team, low scores, public scrutiny and media glare, and yes, the controversy, where Khar Gymkhana had revoked her complimentary membership. Despite the constant gaze and countless inner battles, her exterior was quite the opposite. Here was this cheery, Insta-friendly, guitar-sporting, singing-dancing Bandra girl, with a supportive family, who played cricket with the enthusiasm of a kid in a candy shop every time she wore India’s colours.