Following India's victory in the 2025 Women's World Cup, Sunil Gavaskar fulfilled a promise to Jemimah Rodrigues by gifting her a custom-made guitar. The special gift acknowledges Rodrigues' outstanding performance throughout the tournament and celebrates her passion for music.
The story began during the World Cup, specifically after Rodrigues' remarkable century against Australia in the semi-final. Her innings of 127* was crucial in India's chase of a large total, securing their place in the final held on home soil. Gavaskar, recognizing her talent and knowing her love for music, pledged to sing with her if India won the World Cup. This promise was a callback to their impromptu duet at the BCCI Awards in 2024.
India indeed went on to win the World Cup, defeating South Africa in the final at the DY Patil Stadium. Rodrigues promptly reminded Gavaskar of his promise, posting a video on Instagram saying she was ready with her guitar and hoped he was ready with his mic.
Gavaskar honored his word on the eve of the WPL, presenting Rodrigues with a unique gift. The custom guitar is shaped like a cricket bat, merging her two passions. A video shared on social media captured the moment when Gavaskar greeted Rodrigues and revealed the guitar. The two Mumbai stars then sang together, with Rodrigues playing the guitar.
Rodrigues also takes on a major captaincy role in the Women's Premier League, stepping into the shoes of former Delhi Capitals captain Meg Lanning. Her World Cup performance and the subsequent gift from Gavaskar have further cemented her status as a role model and a leader for the next generation of Indian cricketers.
