The September born youngster, Jemimah Rodrigues, breaking headlines off late is not only a passionate cricketer but also a lover of the nation’s national sport Hockey. She has seen life not only in the 22 yard circle but also where the stick meets the ball. An all rounder for Mumbai Women’s Cricket Team, she has also been part of the under 17 hockey team.
A multi-talented young girl, chasing her dreams is the daughter of a club cricketer, Ivan. Her brothers were the first batsmen she ever faced as a bowler.
Where she was picked up for both under-17 and under-19 hockey teams of Maharashtra, she made her under-19 debut at an age when she wasn’t even a teenager. She represented her state at the age of 13 and from thereon had no looking back.
Scoring a double century against Saurashtra in Aurangabad in 2017, Rodrigues made her debut in the blue jersey on 13th February 2018 against The Proteas. She played her first ODI on 12th March 2018 against Australia.
Rodrigue’s debut against The Proteas was quite steady. She scored 37 runs off 27 balls that included four fours and a six. The second time she took on the opposition with the bat, she got out for only 6 runs, however, made a comeback in her third outing where she scored 44 runs ensuring her team going over the line.
Rodrigues with her appreciable performance against South Africa, was given an opportunity to perform against Australia as well. Her debut wasn’t the one she would like to remember as she was asked to return to the pavilion with only a run to her name.
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The youngster maintained the record of getting out for only a run in her second encounter against Australia as well, however, made her mark in the third with a brilliant half century to her name even though her team couldn’t cross the line.
Rodrigues got a place in the Indian Team for the Asia Cup as well, however, she did not get much of an opportunity to showcase her talent in the tournament.
Not looking back, Jemimah made her comeback in the Women’s Challenger Trophy where she represented India Green. Under the captaincy of Veda Krishnamurthy, Jemimah made her first appearance on 15th August where she opened the innings but could not capitalise. It wasn’t a tournament that she would like to look at from either her performance or her team’s.
However, like we say – no one said it would be easy, Rodrigues sure had it the hard way. She fell several times but got up each time and the tour to Sri Lanka is surely a one she would hold close to her heart for a long time. India as a team won the series and Rodrigues scored 36 runs with the bat on her second outing. Making the most of the opportunity, she won hearts of all the people with her classic knock of 57 runs against the hosts in the 3rd T20. Her first fifty of the tournament was followed by another which was further followed by a knock of 46 runs. She was the highest run scorer in the T20s with 191 runs to her name at an average 63.67.
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Always in the news since then, she has been named in the squad for the ICC Women’s World T20.
Even though most of her classic knocks were not telecast, she has proven to the world that time is all that matters and that there is no substitute for hardwork. Also, it’s only after the night that the sun shines and that the essence of success can never come without experiencing failures. She got up after every failure, never feared facing obstacles and always tried to make the most of what she had in store. A youngster surely one would like to follow in future, she has a long journey to cover and we, on behalf of Female Cricket, wish her all the very best.
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