Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues has found herself in the spotlight, not for her performance on the field but due to a controversy involving her father, Ivan Rodrigues. The issue arose after Ivan allegedly hosted religious conversion-related events at Khar Gymkhana, a well-known sports and social club in Mumbai.
Khar Gymkhana Cancels Jemimah’s Membership
Khar Gymkhana revoked Jemimah’s membership after discovering that her father had organized multiple religious gatherings in the club’s Presidential Hall. According to members, Ivan booked the hall for around 35 events over one and a half years in association with Brother Manuel Ministries.
The club’s constitution strictly prohibits its premises from being used for religious activities. Upset members raised the issue at the annual meeting, expressing concern that these events involved vulnerable individuals from weaker sections of society being persuaded to convert.
Former President of the Gymkhana Raises Alarms
Former Khar Gymkhana president Nitin Gadekar shared that he received a tip from a staff member about unusual activities taking place. “When I checked, I found the room dark, with trance music playing and a woman saying, ‘He is coming to save us.’ It was quite shocking to witness,” Gadekar said, expressing his surprise at the nature of the events.
Viral Video Adds to Controversy
As the controversy unfolds, an old video from 2015 of Jemimah Rodrigues during her junior cricket days has resurfaced online, adding to the buzz. In the video, Jemimah speaks about scoring 25 runs off 37 balls and credits God for her success. Moments later, a person chants mantras near her, after which Jemimah appears to faint. The clip has sparked further speculation and discussion on social media.
Jemimah’s Cricket Career in Focus
Despite the controversy, Jemimah continues to shine on the cricket field. She is seen as a strong contender for the captaincy of the Indian women’s team. So far, she has represented India in 3 Tests, 20 ODIs, and 104 T20s, scoring 710 runs in ODIs and 2,142 runs in T20s. Jemimah also contributes as a part-time bowler, with 5 ODI wickets and 1 T20 wicket to her name.
While her career is on an upward trajectory, the ongoing controversy may have created unexpected turbulence in her personal life.
