He Turned My Cricketing Dream into Reality, I Still Crave for his Praise More than the Whole World’s: Jemimah Rodrigues

Today, millions of cricket fans in India and around the world know Jemimah Rodrigues as the batter who has an incredible smile and a fearless batting style even under pressure. Whether she is playing to rescue India from a sticky situation or entertaining the audience with her aggressive strokes, she has become one of the most loved and recognisable faces in women’s cricket globally. 

And although fans celebrate her success and stadiums echo with the chants of her name, there is one person whose approval and praise that means more than anything else to her, it is her father, Ivan Rodrigues. 

This Father’s Day, their story is a touching reminder that behind every successful athlete is usually one parent who sacrifices a lot, encouraging them at every turn, and continuing to believe in them and their dream even when no one else does. 

Why does her father’s opinion matter so much to Jemimah?

According to Hindustan Times, Jemimah has never been shy to express and share her admiration for her father. She said, “Not all heroes wear capes. My dad is my hero. He has led by example, showing me how to dream big, work hard and live a life of faith in God. He has made me the player I am today and I love him a lot.”

For her father, Ivan, the bond between them is just as strong. While speaking to HT, he said, his daughter’s biggest achievement is not fame or trophies, but the fact that she still values his opinion above all else. “You can ask Jemimah, it does not matter even if the whole world praises her. But when her dad praises her, it means everything to her.”

A Father’s Day message by Ivan Rodrigues for all parents

On Father’s Day, Jemimah’s father shared a heartfelt message to all the parents raising children with big dreams. According to HT, he believes parents should focus on supporting their children rather than pushing their own ambitions onto them. 

“Dont try to live your dream vicariously through your children. Let them discover their passion, find what drives them and stand by them through their journey. Do whatever it takes to support them in achieving their dreams, whatever they may be,” he told HT. 

Balancing between being a coach and a father

Ivan Rodrigues is not just Jemaimah’s father, he is also her coach. He even runs a cricket academy in the Juhu area of Mumbai. According to HT, he always made sure that there was a clear distinction between parenting and coaching. 

“While I am on the field, I am her coach. She has to follow the same discipline and seriousness as all my other students. But after we get home, the father takes over.” He told HT. 

This balance act of being a coach on field and a dotting father at home, helped Jemimah learn discipline while always knowing she had her father’s unconditional support. 

Learning about women’s cricket with his daughter

At a time when women’s cricket did not receive much attention like it does nowadays, Ivan realised that he needed to learn more about the game himself. According to HT, he travelled to watch the legendary Indian cricketers like Harmanpreet Kaur, Mithali Raj in action so that he could understand the women’s game better as well as the level that Jemimah Rodrigues needed to reach. 

His commitment to learning alongside his daughter became another critical point of her development as a cricketer. 

A father’s day story of love, sacrifice and belief

Today, as Jemimah Rodrigues prepares for new challenges in the on-going Women T20 World Cup and continues to chase cricketing glory, her father remains her forever inspiration and her biggest supporter. 

The duo’s story is much more about cricket. It is about trust, sacrifice, and resilience, and her father’s immense faith in his daughter when success was only a dream for both of them.