Visakhapatnam: The Indian Women’s World Cup squad remains undefeated, having secured convincing victories against Sri Lanka and Pakistan in their initial two fixtures. However, star batter Jemimah Rodrigues believes their best performance is yet to come – a prospect she finds “scary” for opposing teams.
“Every match has seen new players step up as match-winners. If rival teams are observing us, they’ll realize our batting lineup runs deep. The truly frightening part for them is that we haven’t played a perfect game yet, but we’re still on a winning streak,” Rodrigues stated on the eve of India’s crucial match against South Africa in Visakhapatnam.
She emphasized the importance of peaking at the opportune moment in extended tournaments. “We gain immense confidence from knowing our batting extends to the very end, and that every player is a potential match-winner. We aren’t desperate for that ‘perfect’ game right now,” she added.
The talented Mumbai cricketer also voiced strong support for the opening duo of Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, highlighting their exceptional form. “Our opening partnership has been outstanding, having already amassed over 1000 runs. I’m confident we’re heading in the right direction,” she affirmed.
While Rodrigues herself hasn’t consistently piled up runs, she remains focused on delivering impactful performances for the team. Reflecting on recent games, she noted, “Against Sri Lanka, the ball was moving significantly, making it difficult to do much. In the second match, I built a crucial 47-run partnership with Harleen. My focus isn’t on individual scores, but on challenging the opponent’s total. That particular wicket was tough, and we laid a foundation for the team to reach 250.”
“I’m not dwelling on my personal performance too much. My primary goal is to contribute whatever the team needs. With the right mindset, I believe individual achievements will naturally follow. The team’s success comes first,” she explained.
Looking ahead to the upcoming match, Rodrigues anticipated a more favorable batting surface. “The pitch was under covers today, but it appears to be a good one. It feels like we could see a score upwards of 270 runs on this pitch,” she predicted.