Up Close | KAIROS GLOBAL | JUNE 2026

Author : Jyothsna Dsouza

Title: Power behind the Bat

Intro

Indian cricketer Jemimah Jessica Rodrigues answers a few questions on faith and fitness to Kairos Global’s editorial team member, Jyothsna Dsouza.

Article

1. Please can you share your faith journey with us.

My faith started really young since my father is a pastor. Prayer was an integral part of our family, growing up. The only rule was that you had to pray before you play. It was in a way forced on us, and because we wanted to play we started praying. 

I didn't realise when but it became part of my life that whatever I did, I'd always end up talking to Jesus or having conversations with God. And that’s what you call prayer, right? That's how prayer started. And for me, my journey in faith is not a religion. It's more of a relationship with Jesus, with God the Father; I think that's how it started for me. Cricket has also been a way that God has used to help me get closer to Him and to get to know Him more.

2. You wowed Christians in India and abroad when you boldly and passionately gave glory to Jesus after the historic World Cup win. Please can you tell us about that day?

That entire month, I was not doing well mentally, had been going through a lot of anxiety, and it was even hard before the games. A lot of times I would cry before the match, but what happened in the semi-final, that knock… Just before that game, I was dropped and to come back into the semi-finals on the world stage with everyone watching, to defeat Australia, who are eight-times world champions…that had to be the hand of God in my life. I was just grateful that He chose me to be a part of that.  

What came out of the post-match presentation was very real. It was from the heart. It was not planned nor was I forced to say that. Whatever happened came out of a real experience of how God was there when I was anxious, how God became real to me, how Jesus became real to me. How He carried me through, and the experience will always stay with me. I know He's real because I’ve experienced Jesus showing up in my life and lifting me up, and that was what happened.

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3. Who has played influencing roles in your faith?

My mom and my dad have played the most influencing roles in my faith, just by the way they led by example. They didn’t just tell us to follow God or even love one another. They showed it. They lived out their faith and I think they are my biggest examples. I would also like to thank Brother Manuel and Sister Lynette who are an important part of my faith journey. They are my pastors, they are the ones who showed me the way to Jesus and helped me go on that path.

4. Our theme for the June issue of Kairos Global is, 'physical fitness leads to spiritual fitness'. How important has both these been to you?

Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It’s the only place you're going to live in, and if we take care of it, we’re taking care of everything else. So, it's important to have a healthy body and to do whatever it takes for a healthy life, because in the end, all of us are called to serve, all of us are called to help one another. All of us are called to go and spread the kingdom far and wide. But if I'm not healthy, I'm not taking care of my body. It's going to be hard for me to go out there and put in all the effort and hard work. So, it's important for me not just to stay physically fit, but also stay spiritually fit because that's when I can go and spread the love of Jesus everywhere.

5. Please can you share how you keep yourself physically and spiritually fit.

Regarding my physical fitness, I have a routine where my entire week is planned. For example, one day I will do a strength session, the next day I'll do a conditioning session, so both of them are taken care of. 

When it comes to being spiritually fit, at first I used to have a dedicated time for prayer every day, but now prayer has just become a part of my life where every time I'm on the ground and something good happens, I just imagine Jesus standing right next to me and I say, ‘Thank you Jesus for making this happen.’ If there are times that I am anxious and stressed and feel like I don't know how to go about the situation, at that moment I'll make a silent prayer and say, ‘Jesus can you help me? Can you give me wisdom on what to do?’ And He always shows up. He always leads. 

So, one is by involving God in everything you do, throughout your journey, as if He's your best friend, talking to Him like that, because He is. And the second thing would be to take time out of your day. I do it usually just before going to bed, just sitting still, thinking about God and thinking about what His Word says from the Bible. Maybe thinking about a Scripture verse or just speaking to Him and letting Him love you in that moment, letting Him be there in that moment, just sitting there and listening to what He wants to say. I think that’s the most important thing for me…just letting your mind wander on Scriptures, wonder about God’s thoughts, and just talking to Him, but even more just letting Him love you there, and letting Him still you.

6. What is your advice to Christians about spiritual fitness and being bold witnesses of Jesus? What is your message to youth and youngsters?

My advice to Christians about spiritual fitness and being bold witnesses to Jesus would be that before talking to everyone about Jesus, first talk to Jesus about everything. I think that is the most important thing and let everything flow from there. 

Tell him, ‘Jesus, I really want my friend to get to know you.’ Talk to Him about it and He will guide you how to go about it.  And the other thing is to let everything flow from your relationship with Him. 

A lot of people reading this might even doubt whether God is real, and that's a very valid question. I mean, that's a very real thought and why don't you talk to God about it. If you feel that God is not real to you, you need to talk to God more than anything else. Tell God, ‘God, I don’t feel that You are real. If you exist, prove it to me. Show me.’ I don't think God gets offended at that. I feel He gets pumped up. He’s like, ‘Yes, my son, my daughter wants to know more about Me. I'm going to reveal Myself.’ 

So this is something I always pray, ‘Jesus be more real to me.’ Far from someone providing me knowledge about Jesus, I want it to be more intimate and more personal and more real. I don’t want to follow Jesus because someone tells me to follow Jesus. I want to follow because I know Him. I know His heart and He leads me. So all I would say is, talk to God about everything and tell Him to be more real, and He will show up.

Author Profile

Jemimah Jessica Rodrigues is an Indian international cricketer who plays for the India women's national team as a middle-order batter. She was part of the squad that won the 2025 Women's Cricket World Cup.