From touching the lowest ebb after the ODI World Cup snub in New Zealand last year to hitting the winning runs in victory over arch-rivals Pakistan in the T20 global event this time, Jemimah Rodrigues has done brilliantly to turn the corner in less than 12 months.

Rodrigues, who hit a match-winning 38-ball unbeaten 53 in a seven-wicket win in India’s Women’s T20 World Cup opener here on Sunday, said at one point in time, she even contemplated quitting the game.

“I think this time last year when I was at home and I was not in a good headspace because I was dropped from (India’s) 50-over World Cup squad. That was the toughest time for me, but there were so many people who helped me throughout this time,” Rodrigues said at the postmatch media conference.

“Honestly, many a time I had nothing to tell myself. There were so many times I had given up, you know I didn’t have the strength to carry (on) and I know a lot of people say, ‘you need to back yourself, you need to motivate yourself’, but what a person is going through, only they know what they’re going through,” an emotional Rodrigues bared her heart during the interaction.

The support system is very important, she said.

“I was blessed that I had people who believed in me and helped me push through that time, so I am just grateful to them. It felt like that was one of the lowest phases of my life, but it turned out to be the reason why I could come here today.”

Rodrigues is grateful to her personal coach Prasanth Shetty and her father, Ivan, for helping her get out of that difficult phase. She went back to her basics and played against U-14 and U-19 boys at dusty Azad Maidan rank-turners, a decision which worked wonders.

“We worked out a plan, like, in a week I had to play two games, more match time, and the rest I would practice. Sunday was my day off. It was very challenging, in the morning there’s so much dew. So, in those conditions, I had to play under-19 boys. Putting myself in such situations actually helped me, getting myself out of comfort zone,” she said.

Playing against U-14 boys, Rodrigues was determined not to lose her wicket. “The pressure of me being an India player playing with under-14 boys, if I lost my wicket, it’s embarrassing. I believe all these little things just build up and make you the player you are.”