Jemimah Rodrigues recently etched a new milestone in her career, playing an exceptional match-winning innings against Australia at the D.Y. Patil Stadium. This remarkable achievement comes after a period of personal controversy, as her honorary membership at the historic Khar Gymkhana was revoked in October 2024.
The club’s decision was reportedly due to concerns that her father, Ivan Rodrigues, had been conducting unauthorized spiritual sessions on their premises. Despite this past hurdle, Rodrigues’ outstanding unbeaten score of 127 against Australia in Navi Mumbai secured India a coveted spot in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 final.
This victory was particularly significant as it came against the undefeated world champions, setting up a final clash for India against South Africa.
The controversy at Khar Gymkhana came to light during its Annual General Body Meeting in October 2024. Allegations arose that Ivan Rodrigues had organized approximately 35 gatherings under ‘Brother Manuel Ministries’ over 18 months, which reportedly involved religious activities that violated club regulations. The club’s bylaws explicitly forbid political or religious events on its property.
Committee member Shiv Malhotra expressed his dismay, stating, “It’s shocking that such events were happening here. These kinds of activities are reported in other parts of the country, but seeing it within our club was concerning.”
The situation escalated when a staff member notified former club president Nitin Gadekar. He, along with several other members, attended one of these gatherings, describing a dimly-lit hall filled with music and speeches, reminiscent of a revival-style meeting.
Following these observations, the club proceeded with formal action, resulting in a membership vote. President Vivek Devnani confirmed to The Indian Express that “The decision was taken collectively by members present at the meeting. The honorary membership was granted to Jemimah Rodrigues in 2023 for three years, but given the circumstances, it was unanimously decided to cancel it.”
Jemimah had initially received the honorary membership in recognition of her impressive cricket achievements. The cancellation was deemed unusual, as it stemmed from allegations connected to her family’s activities rather than her personal conduct.
A year on from the controversy, Rodrigues has powerfully re-asserted her cricketing dominance. Her exceptional innings of 127 not out from 116 balls, featuring 14 boundaries and 3 sixes, played a crucial role in India successfully chasing down a challenging target of 339 against Australia in the semi-final match.