After reaching the knockouts in the previous three editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, India endured a disappointing campaign in 2024. They reached the semi-finals in 2018 and 2023 while they were runners-up in 2020.
However, they suffered a group-stage exit this year. They won two (against Pakistan and Sri Lanka) and lost two (against New Zealand and Australia), finishing third in Group A.
Jemimah Rodrigues looked good in most of the games but couldn’t convert her starts. She did admit that India were not at their best in the 2024 T20 World Cup. She revealed that the team were ‘still hurting’. However, the 24-year-old said they are going to move on and focus on the ODI World Cup which is scheduled to be played at home in 2025.
“Honestly, if I can be very frank, we didn’t play the best cricket that we should have played as an Indian team. Each one of us knows that. I know it’s still hurting all of us. I know it’s hard, as it was one of those tournaments we would want to forget and move forward. Because we have the 50-over World Cup at home, we want to prepare well for that,” Jemimah Rodrigues was quoted saying to the media.
Rodrigues wants India to peak at the right time. She added that they are trying to introspect rather than pinpoint others’ mistakes.
“We want to make sure as a team, we do well at the right time, and each player performs and takes the team through. So, in the end, I can’t pinpoint – what we spoke about in the dressing room was we need to look inside rather than pointing at others. Each individual knows what they need to do and how they need to get better and come,” Rodrigues added.
WBBL experience will help Rodrigues
The Mumbai-born batter is currently in Australia, playing the WBBL 2024-25. She’s already played a couple of impact knocks for the Brisbane Heat. She has amassed 124 runs in four outings while striking at 145.88.
India have a three-match ODI series scheduled against Australia in December. Rodrigues feels that the experience of playing in the WBBL will help her significantly.
“It [playing the WBBL] will definitely help me a lot. Like, just coming here and getting used to the conditions. It’s a blessing going into the series after this, and I will be playing the same bowlers again. So, it’s nice to have this kind of preparation. If I could put it in those words, going into the series,” the 24-year-old further added.
