Virat Kohli spoke up about Smriti Mandhana’s knock. That moment stayed with fans long after the match ended. Jemimah Rodrigues did something similar a few months later under bright stadium lights. Each performance carved its own space in recent memory. While many waited for big names to shine, these two stepped forward without noise. Their calm control stood out amid rising pressure.

Virat Kohli talked about Mandhana’s explosive 81-run knock off just 39 balls during the RCB Podcast, recalling how it powered the team in the Women’s Premier League final versus Delhi Capitals. That performance carried RCB to their second WPL crown. Even though she battled through severe illness, Mandhana steered the run-chase with sharp intent, helping her side reach 204 - a target never before chased so high in league history - sealing consecutive titles.

What stands out, Kohli pointed out, is Mandhana’s clean timing along with her fluid way of hitting the ball. She ranks among the most instinctive players you could see in action.

“Smriti has always had this very unique talent and way of hitting the ball. She’s a naturally gifted timer of the ball. When you watch her bat, it feels effortless even though she’s hitting amazing shots. That’s the beauty of her skill,” Kohli said.

Virat Kohli calls Jemimah Rodrigues’ World Cup century “more special”

What stood out most wasn’t just skill - it was heart. Though Kohli praised Mandhana’s calm presence when things got tight, it was Jemimah Rodrigues’ 127, steady and unbroken in the semi-final versus Australia, that touched him more deeply. Moments like those stick, not because they’re loud, but because they resonate.

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Jemimah Rodrigues stepped up during India’s bold pursuit of 338 versus the current world champs. A steady flow carried her through a key stand with skipper Harmanpreet Kaur - she contributed 89 - not just numbers but momentum. Their link-up added 167 runs, quiet yet firm, shaping the day. With nine deliveries still unused, India crossed the line, setting a new peak for chases in Women’s World Cup play.
“The more I was proud of was Jemimah. She was unbelievable,” Kohli said while discussing her semi-final knock.

Out of tough spots came her best play, he said, pointing to Rodrigues who faced pressure head-on. Not every player holds steady when things tilt sideways; she did. What stood out was how calm she stayed, even with so much on the line. Moments that shake others seemed to sharpen her focus instead. Big games can hollow people out, but she filled the space with quiet confidence. That kind of nerve isn’t taught - it shows up when it’s needed.

“When you watched that innings, she looked completely locked in. She wasn’t thinking about Australia, the pressure, or the magnitude of the chase. She was just watching the ball and playing her game,” Kohli explained.

That knock meant a lot emotionally, he said, especially since it happened in Mumbai, where her family sat watching, surrounded by familiar faces in the stands.
“To do it in front of her own people, after everything she had gone through, showed incredible mental strength and resilience,” he added.

Beyond the boundary, Virat Kohli touched on how women’s cricket keeps rising - each match sharper than before. Not far behind, he highlighted Mandhana, noting her steady hand in lifting the sport. Then came Rodrigues, whose calm approach adds weight without noise. Both, he said, carry more than scores; they shift expectations.

“They understand the finer details of what it takes to raise the standards of women’s cricket. They’ve shown ownership and the ability to rise above complications around them,” Kohli said.
After weighing both performances, Kohli quietly conceded that Rodrigues’ World Cup moment carried more heart, while Mandhana’s WPL final innings stood out for its clean execution. Still, emotion tipped the scale.

“Both were tremendous and memorable innings. But if you ask Smriti as well, she would probably choose a World Cup semi-final knock over a WPL final innings. So for me, Jemimah’s knock was the more special one, though Smriti’s was pure class,” Kohli concluded.

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