Indian cricket sensation Jemimah Rodrigues has finally shared her emotional journey through the recent Khar Gymkhana controversy, detailing the profound impact it had on her and her family. The issue, which cast a shadow last year, resurfaced following her triumphant performance in India’s World Cup victory.
The controversy began in October 2024 during a Khar Gymkhana Annual General Body Meeting. Allegations surfaced that Jemimah’s father, Ivan Rodrigues, had organized approximately 35 religious gatherings linked to Brother Manuel Ministries over 18 months. These activities, reportedly religious in nature, were seen as a breach of club rules prohibiting such events on the premises. A staff member’s complaint to then-club president Nitin Gadekar escalated the matter, leading to an investigation and a member vote that ultimately resulted in the suspension of the Rodrigues family’s club membership.
In a candid conversation, Jemimah expressed the ‘deep hurt’ caused by the unfounded allegations and the subsequent challenging period. “It was one thing for me to face it, but when my parents were dragged into it for something we didn’t do, it really hurt. Everything we did at that time was according to the rules and regulations — and we had proof of that. But the allegations made against me and my family really affected us deeply because we had done nothing wrong,” she revealed.
She recalled the controversy striking just as she was grappling with personal form and confidence issues after India’s World Cup campaign in Dubai. “That happened right after the World Cup in Dubai, where we hadn’t done well. I personally hadn’t performed to my expectations and was already feeling low. Then suddenly, I started seeing news, messages, and people saying terrible things about me — and worse, about my family and my church. That broke me,” Jemimah recounted, describing the devastating feeling of facing professional and personal setbacks simultaneously.
Rodrigues highlighted her family’s response: choosing faith, patience, and forgiveness over confrontation. “But as a family, we sat together and said, this is not our battle to fight. We knew our intentions were right, and we knew we hadn’t done anything wrong. God is our witness. So, we decided to stay silent, not to prove anything or fight back. We chose to forgive those who hurt us because that’s what Jesus taught us, to forgive even those who wrong us,” she explained.
She believes divine intervention played a role in their vindication. “And honestly, I’ve seen how God turned it all around. Exactly a year later came that New Zealand semi-final knock and India winning the World Cup. Around the same time last year, we were in pain, but this year, God lifted us up and gave us double honour for every bit of shame we went through,” she stated.
Jemimah’s resilience and faith were showcased in her exceptional performance at the 2025 ODI World Cup, where she amassed 292 runs at an average of 58.40. Her undefeated 127 in the semi-final against Australia is widely considered a legendary World Cup innings, securing India’s final berth and marking her personal redemption.
