Jemimah Rodrigues keen to look forward after India’s ignominious opener
India will be looking for a response and fast following Friday’s heavy defeat to New Zealand in their opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024.
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The 58-run loss to the third-highest ranked team in Group A leaves India in a tricky early position in the standings, with defending champions Australia the favourites to top a group that is fascinatingly poised after two results that defied the form book.
And batter Jemimah Rodrigues knows the team need to move on from the disappointment quickly.
“Going forward I think we need to have the right approach because the tournament’s not over,” Rodrigues said in India’s post-match press conference.
“We need to take some positives from this game and a lot of learnings from this game.”
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India were on the back foot early in the game as New Zealand’s openers got off to a fast start, but Rodrigues says the pace of the Kiwis’ scoring did not come as a surprise.
“We knew that any team will come hard at us, and I think they came out with a lot of intent. We did create opportunities, but unfortunately we didn’t make the most of it.”
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India’s number four instead opted to look at her own part in a batting display that fell way short of the team’s expectations.
Rodrigues chipped a simple catch to mid-on to depart for 13, and the 24-year-old annoyed at herself for not playing more of a rebuilding role after the team had earlier slipped to 42/3.
“I know with my game I’m ready to bat anywhere the team wants me. Today, because I was batting well, I had some form in the warm-up games, it was my responsibility to make sure we built a partnership after losing wickets.
“Today would be the game we’d like to forget. This is a World Cup and we need to keep moving on and picking ourselves up – we can’t say stuck on this game. We need to pick ourselves up and show the character of this team.”
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Next up for India’s it’s a fixture against neighbours Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday – a match that now takes on even greater significance, with the 2020 finalists needing a victory to stabilise the campaign.
But Pakistan will not be an easy test on the evidence of their opening-day performance, which saw them upset Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka.
India’s remaining fixtures
India v Pakistan on Sunday 6 October – Dubai International Cricket Stadium
India v Sri Lanka on Wednesday 9 October – Dubai International Cricket Stadium
India v Australia on Sunday 13 October – Sharjah Cricket Stadium
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