CWG 2022: I Am Not A Power-Hitter, I Am A Placer – Jemimah Rodrigues After Barbados Win

Indian women’s team batter Jemimah Rodrigues said she trusts in her own abilities and cannot imitate any other player in the team.

Jemimah played an important knock of 46-ball 56 not out in India’s thumping 100-run win over Barbados in a do-or-die match of the Commonwealth Games 2022.

Just want to play the best role for the team: Jemimah Rodrigues

Batting at No.3, Jemimah hit six boundaries and a six during her calm and composed knock to power India to 162/4. She forged a 71-run stand with opener Shafali Verma (43) for the second wicket and 70 more runs with Deepti Sharma (34*) in the end.

“Smriti had told me long back in the IPL [Women’s T20 Challenge] in 2019 that you don’t have to be a Harmanpreet Kaur or a Smriti Mandhana. You have to be a Jemimah Rodrigues. I think I have understood that role and it’s helping me,” Jemimah said after the match.

“The team has given me a role. If I can play that role, it doesn’t matter how other people look at it. If the dynamics suit our team, we have Shafali, Smriti, Harman, so I just want to play the best role I want to play for the team,” she added.

I’m not a power-hitter, I’m a placer: Jemimah Rodrigues 

Jemimah had no qualms in admitting that she isn’t a power-hitter, a much important role in modern-day T20Is, but is keen to develop that aspect.

“Definitely, I’ve worked on my power game, but more than that, I’ve understood my game better. I’m not a power-hitter, I’m a placer. I can hit the (gaps for) singles and doubles well; I know how to manoeuvre the field. I think that is my strength,” she said.

“My game is not very flashy but even without that, I end up with a good strike rate. That is what I have realised I don’t have to be someone else; I have to be Jemimah Rodrigues to score. This is what has helped me,” she further said.

India restricted Barbados women to 62 for 8 in the second innings with another fiery spell from Renuka Singh Thakur (4/10) helping Harmanpreet Kaur and her players to secure a semi-final berth in the CWG 2022.

Also Read: India Squad For CWG 2022: Veda Krishnamurthy Explains Logic Behind Poonam Yadav’s Ouster From 15-Member Squad