Indian cricket fans are buzzing after Jemimah Rodrigues’ phenomenal century against Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup semifinal. Her spectacular unbeaten 127 not only propelled India into the final but also sparked a social media sensation. An old prediction by former England captain and acclaimed commentator Nasser Hussain has resurfaced, showing he spotted her talent more than seven years ago!
A widely circulated image on social media features Nasser Hussain alongside a young Jemimah Rodrigues, accompanied by his seven-year-old post on X (formerly Twitter). In it, Hussain declared, ‘Remember the name… Jemimah Rodrigues.. did some throw downs with her today .. she’s going to be a star for India.’
This prescient post, made when Jemimah was just 17, has gone viral following India’s thrilling victory. Fans are showering praise on Hussain’s remarkable foresight in recognizing the potential of a future cricket sensation so early in her career.
Coming in at number three, Jemimah played one of the most brilliant innings of her career. She was the cornerstone of India’s chase of 339 runs, marking the highest successful pursuit in the history of the Women’s World Cup. Her crucial 167-run partnership with captain Harmanpreet Kaur, who scored 89, laid the foundation for India’s memorable win.
Reflecting on her calm demeanor during the high-stakes chase, Jemimah shared her mindset after the match. ‘I was telling Harry di (Harmanpreet) that we both have to finish it,’ she recalled. ‘When that (Harmanpreet’s dismissal) happened, it was like a blessing in disguise for me because I was kind of losing focus because of tiredness. But when Harman got out, I think that added more responsibility to me.’
The 25-year-old batter also candidly discussed her previous struggles with anxiety during the tournament, acknowledging the immense support she received from her teammates and family to help her stay composed.
Jemimah’s emotional century has not only secured India a place in the World Cup final against South Africa but has also renewed widespread admiration for her incredible journey. It seems Nasser Hussain truly did see her star power shining long before anyone else.