She makes reels and runs:In a memorable evening at the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup semi-final, it wasn’t just the roar of the crowd or the scoreboard that made headlines, it was the way Jemimah Rodrigues turned criticism into pure cricketing artistry.
For years she had been labelled a “reels and guitar” queen, a talented personality with a bat, yes, but often judged more for her social-media chirps than her match-winning knocks. That all changed in one transcendent innings. With a composed century against the mighty Australia Women’s Cricket Team, she did more than chase a record target, she delivered a message: being yourself and being elite do not lie at opposite ends.
She makes reels and runs: World Cup hero Jemimah silences prejudice with her bat-Overview
| Article on | She makes reels and runs: World Cup hero Jemimah silences prejudice with her bat |
| Main Theme | Jemimah Rodrigues silences critics with a match-winning World Cup semi-final century against Australia. |
| Key Message | Balancing personality and performance proving that creativity and cricketing excellence can coexist. |
| Turning Point | Unbeaten 127-run knock leading India to the World Cup final, breaking stereotypes. |
| Impact | Redefined perceptions of women in sport; inspired young athletes to embrace authenticity. |
| Legacy | A symbol of confidence, resilience, and individuality “She makes reels and runs.” |
From flash to focus: The persona vs the player
Jemimah’s public image had long walked two parallel tracks: one of a smile-bright, guitar-strumming young woman who could light up reels; the other, as a cricketer still in the making, sometimes inconsistent,
sometimes overshadowed. Social media posts and light-hearted moments drew criticism: some corners implied that she was more interested in reels than runs. The taunt “run banana, wo kya hota hai – mera cringe reel dekh aur gaana sun” became a rhetorical weapon used to question her commitment.
The stage, the target and the stakes
On that night at the DY Patil Stadium, India faced a huge challenge: chasing 339 against Australia in a knockout match. Historically the six-time world champions were heavy favourites. But Jemimah, batting at No. 3, brought the kind of innings that defied expectation. She produced an unbeaten 127 and steered India to the final, the highest successful chase in women’s ODI history.
Beyond the runs: symbolism and substance
What made her knock special wasn’t only the numbers. It was what it represented. For too long, female athletes have been subject to judgement not just for their performance but for their persona. Women smiling after defeat, women posting reels, women being themselves all once seen as distractions. Jemimah’s knock challenged that notion by proving that joy, style and performance can coexist.
The makeover: from inconsistent to indispensable
Jemimah’s journey to that night was neither linear nor smooth. After debuting in 2018, she saw highs and lows being excluded from the 2022 World Cup, failing to convert chances, and being pinned down by criticism.
But 2025 has been her year. Three ODI centuries already, a reassigned role at No. 3, and a quiet confidence that took hold. The semi-final knock was the culmination of that transformation: she became not just a member of the team, but a match-winner, a frontline batter. Her aesthetic, once dismissed as frivolous, now stands in sharper relief: elegance with purpose, personality with performance.
Silencing prejudice: the larger impact
This innings didn’t just help India into the final, it addressed a bigger culture issue. Women in sport, especially those who embrace individuality, creativity and joy, often face the double burden of performing and conforming. Jemimah’s success pushes back against that: you can dance, you can make reels, you can strum a guitar and you can still dominate a cricket field when it matters.
What next, and what remains ahead
With the final now in sight, Jemimah knows her story isn’t over. The group-stage heartbreak, the missed opportunities they all serve as fuel. She is now positioned not just as a supporting batter, but as a pillar of India’s campaign. The world will watch whether she can carry this momentum into the big show.
Final Thoughts
In one masterful innings, Jemimah Rodrigues made more than runs she made a point. She reminded us that a woman cricketer doesn’t have to sacrifice joy for seriousness, reels for runs, personality for performance. She can have it all. And when she does, the game becomes richer, the story fuller, and the inspiration deeper.
FAQs for She makes reels and runs
Scored a match-winning 127* vs Australia in the semi-final.
It shut down critics who mocked her for making reels.
That she cared more about social media than cricket.
With her bat leading India to the final.
Be yourself, joy and performance can go hand in hand.