Jemimah Rodrigues recently shared a thoughtful and comprehensive reflection on India’s performance and preparations during the ongoing World Cup, revealing both the technical and mental aspects the team is focusing on as the tournament progresses.
Addressing technical adjustments, Jemimah explained that about four years ago, she recognized a flaw in her pre-delivery routine. She was making too many movements before the ball was bowled, which slowed her timing and affected her ability to connect with the ball. Since then, she has worked hard to eliminate unnecessary movement and settle into a more stable and consistent stance.
She also adapts her stance depending on pitch conditions: widening and lowering her stance on lower-bounce pitches, while on surfaces with normal bounce, she keeps her feet roughly shoulder-width apart. These adjustments, based largely on feel, have helped her achieve better balance and timing, a key factor in improving her shot-making and overall batting performance.
Jemimah emphasized the importance of head position, noting that when her head is properly aligned over the ball, she can meet the deliveries more effectively, especially against challenging short-pitched bowling. She also began preparing earlier for short balls in the crease, which has added extra power to her drives.
Reflecting on recent performances, Jemimah acknowledged the strength and depth of India’s batting lineup. She highlighted the reliable opening partnership as a testament to their skill and consistency. Jemimah further noted the crucial contributions from the middle and lower order, with players like Amanjot Kaur, Deepti Sharma, and Richa Ghosh stepping up as match-winners in different games.
She said, “I think we are on the right track and to see the positives, we have some contribution from top and middle order, but we have had new match winners every match, Aman took responsibility, Deepti took, last match Richa.”
Discussing the recent matches, Jemimah pointed out the stark contrast in playing conditions between venues. In Guwahati, the pitch offered significant turn, with effective spin bowling imposing a tough challenge on the batters. In Sri Lanka, the pitch had been under cover for over 48 hours, resulting in moisture retention that caused the ball to grip, stop, and come onto the bat slower making the task of scoring even more challenging.
Under such conditions, Jemimah explained, a total of approximately 250 runs was considered a fighting score, with anything higher seen as a bonus. The team focused on building innings patiently rather than aiming for overly aggressive totals, recognizing that these pitch conditions demanded a more cautious and tactical approach.
She also addressed the issue of dot balls, revealing that the team played 173 dot balls in the last match. She attributed this to the tough bowling and challenging pitches but emphasized that the team is constantly working on improving run-scoring strategies. She says, “Talking about the batting unit, we have discussed how to improve; there is always scope of improvement and we will come out better in upcoming games.”
Jemimah touched on the team’s approach going forward as they start facing non-Asian teams. She highlighted the importance of focusing on strengths and preparation regardless of the opposition, “I think for us the plan is very simple.
“Yes, the opponents keep changing, maybe for bowling we have specific plans for specific batters. As a batting unit, we know what bowler bowls what but not a drastic change on how we play. In the dressing room, we have talked about our strengths and our preparation.”
When questioned about the challenge posed by left-arm spinners in the tournament, Jemimah acknowledged the difficulty they present to batters. She explained that bowlers who can grip the ball well, spin it sharply, and vary their deliveries make batting very challenging.
However, she also highlighted “It’s always great to have a left arm spinner and we have 2 Radha and Charani who are top quality bowlers. We have seen them do well in WPL and they can be a threat to others.” They provide important bowling options. Jemimah emphasized keeping plans simple and focusing on execution, trusting that discipline and clarity will help the team navigate these challenges successfully.
Finally, Jemimah underlined a simple yet powerful mindset, focusing on what the team can control their preparation, planning, and execution. She believes that this clarity and calmness are crucial in handling the pressures of a major tournament and delivering consistent performances.
Jemimah Rodrigues’s insights reveal a team grounded in technical refinement, mental resilience, strategic preparation, and confidence in each other’s abilities, an inspiring combination as India looks to peak at the right moment and make a deep impact in this World Cup. India will be facing South Africa in their next match on 9 October 2025 in Visakhapatnam.
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