Overview
- A video posted to JioStar/JioHotstar on June 13 showed actresses Alia Bhatt and Sharvari praising Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma, and the clip quickly went viral across mainstream outlets.
- Alia called Jemimah’s 127-run semi-final innings against Australia in the 2025 Women’s World Cup “spectacular” and said it inspired many young girls while Sharvari highlighted Jemimah’s choice to wait until India secured victory before celebrating her century.
- Both players publicly thanked the actresses, with Jemimah saying it was special that other women felt inspired and Shafali noting that Alia is one of her favourite actresses.
- The messages arrived on the eve of India’s opening match in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup, scheduled against Pakistan at Edgbaston on June 14, giving the team a timely morale and publicity boost.
- Coverage commentators say the exchange shows how celebrity endorsement can raise public interest in women’s cricket and may increase viewership and grassroots engagement for the sport.