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Batting for God!

Robert Clements Robert Clements
03 Nov 2025

Was watching the interview of Jemima Rodrigues, who, with an unbeaten 127 runs against the mighty Australians, steered the Indian women's cricket team into the World Cup final. There she stood, tears coursing down her tired face, and instead of boasting about her shots or her timing, she kept repeating that all glory belonged to God. She even quoted scripture as she spoke.

It was refreshing.

In a world where success often leads to arrogance, here was a young woman who remembered who really swung the bat. Yes, she was the one at the crease, but she knew there was another Power guiding her timing, steadying her nerves, and placing her shots.

When asked about her preparation, she spoke of faith, of prayer, and of being still and keeping calm because she believed God was in control.

What a lesson for all our achievers, politicians, and corporate captains!

Imagine if our leaders, after a successful election or project, were to say, "I thank God for His grace," instead of, "It was my strategy, my brilliance, my vision." Humility disarms pride, and gratitude opens the door to greater achievements. But arrogance? That slams it shut.

Humility is not weakness. It is strength under control. It is knowing that even though you have talent, the spark that lights it came from above.

Many a mighty leader has fallen not because of an opponent, but because of his own swollen head.

The moment you start thinking you are god, as our leaders think they are, your countdown begins.

Just look around. Our cities are filled with the faces of men and women who think they are the ones who built the nation. Their pictures glare at us from billboards, brochures, and banners, as if their smile can solve every pothole problem.

If only they realised that beauty and fame fade faster than print on those posters. What remains is character, and that character grows only when we recognise who the true Giver is.

Jemima showed us what it means to be grounded while being lifted high. She taught us that you can hit a century and still bend your knee. That it is possible to be confident without being conceited. Her joy was not the joy of achievement alone, but the joy of being used by God for something bigger than herself.

So, next time you clap for a hero or a leader, listen to what they say after the applause. If all you hear is "I did it," then wait. The fall will come. But if you hear, "He helped me," then you know that person will keep rising.

Kudos to a young cricketer who batted for God. May more of us learn to play our innings the same way: with courage, with grace, and with gratitude. Because when you play for Him, you never get out ...

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