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The ICC Women's World Cup was just won by the Indian women's cricket team for the first time! The entire country is so proud of the team, and in India, happy occasions always come with one promise - good food.
Image Credit: Jemimah Rodrigues
On the night of November 3, a scene unfolded at D.Y Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai that felt like Kabir Khan's Chak De India came to life. For the first time in history, India's women's cricket team chased down a win against South Africa to claim the world cup, and the powerhouse behind the victory was Jemimah Rodrigues who secured her cricketing legacy with her skills. But when she's off the pitch, Jemimah is not just a sports legend, she's just a Mumbai girl with Mangalorean roots who enjoys playing guitar, chilling with her dog, and of course indulging in the city's street food offerings.
What Fuels Jemimah Rodrigues On And Off The Pitch
Jemimah Jessica Rodrigues was born into a Mangalorean Christian family and, from a young age, had a knack for swinging a bat. Her dad, Ivan, was her first coach, spotting her spark before she’d finished primary school. She started out playing gully cricket in Bhandup’s maze of lanes and grew sharper on the polished grounds of Bandra. Cricket shaped her grit, but food? That’s where she finds herself. If you ask Jemimah what she misses most when she’s travelling, she doesn’t name anything fancy. According to reports, she loves Mumbai’s street food and she's obsessed with sharwamas from Carter Road.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Her love for the street food in Mumbai is equal to her love for cricket. She’s no ordinary foodie, nope. She will always be the one to choose bhaji pav over pizza or rajma chawal, and she will drop everything for mutton biryani, if given the choice. That is her ultimate comfort food. Who doesn't love mutton biryani anyway?Everyone does, and so does Jemimah.
Image Credit: Mutton Biryani
Jemimah Rodrigues’ Festive Food Philosophy
Food calms her down like no other. She has often shared in interviews and social media posts, and videos that shared meals, like vada pav and post-match cake, help her decompress from the demands of cricket and bring back memories of Mumbai and its street food. At the same time, she also keeps a balanced ratio of her daily intakes. For instance, in one Instagram reel, she shares that she has a secret juice which normal people would turn away from, which helps her gain all the nutrients she needs. It’s a blend of all the green leaves you can find and apples, and pears. It’s almost like a green smoothie, and she drinks it often. She also advocates for young athletes using her platforms and letting them know that taking breaks, eating a healthy diet or having portion control in what you consume can keep you standing and working longer. Reportedly, during Christmas, after midnight mass on Christmas Eve, her family and she gather for a huge brunch that includes turkey, sorpotel and idlis. It is also a spread with a table piled with family favourites, which can range from anything and everything.
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Reaching A Balance
For her, food is more than calories or fuel. It’s love, comfort, and culture on a plate. When she’s not smashing runs, you’ll probably find her digging into pav bhaji with a smile. She proves you don’t have to chase perfection to be a champion. Success, she says, is sweeter when you slow down and really enjoy it with good food, some laughter, and the people you love. Her teammates know her cheat days are legendary and full of Nutella pancakes, chicken wings, you name it. Off the pitch, food helps her unwind and reconnect, showing that athletes crave flavour just as much as anyone. Finding that balance between joy and discipline, indulgence and focus is something everyone should try to strive for once in a while because you only live once. And she’s figured it out, both on the field and at the table.
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