Indian women’s Star batter Jemimah Rodrigues feels that India’s heartbreaking loss against Australia in the semi-final of the Women’s T20 World Cup is still haunting the players, adding that the Women’s Premier League (WPL) would help ease the pain a bit.
Jemimah Rodrigues Praises WPL
In the WPL 2023 Auction, Jemimah Rodrigues was sold to Delhi Capitals for Rs 2.2 crore where they named Jemimah as the vice-captain of the team while Meg Lanning has been named as the captain of the Women Delhi Capitals.
As per WPL 2023 schedule, the Delhi Capitals will play their first match of the tournament against Royal Challengers Bangalore Women on March 5 in Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai.
“It has taken a while, honestly. We were in South Africa for two days after the semis (loss). Everyone was not in a great headspace. But coming here (for WPL), being with the family for two days (has helped ease the pain),” Jemimah said during a Delhi Capitals event in Mumbai.
“Obviously it (the loss) keeps haunting us but at the same time the WPL is a blessing in disguise because we are directly into this tournament, which will help us keep our mind off the negative thoughts and those things that keep haunting us. (We will) keep working harder — that is how we can shift our focus,” she added.
Jemimah said she feels the WPL will help India unearth players who will make a difference in the future.
“We have been pushing the doors for a very long time, we are getting there, we are getting very close. But I am sure the WPL will change a lot for women’s cricket. You will find many superstars coming out from it, many leaders, or many match winners, I would say,” she said.
Jemimah, who played a sensational knock against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup opener, said some early lows in her career helped shape her career.
“What has not changed in the last five years is my height, it has remained the same but mentally I have grown a lot and that is what international cricket does to you,” she expressed.
“When I started, I had really few good series and then it was up and down. I made a comeback and played the World Cup, Commonwealth Games. It has not been easy but if I get an opportunity (to go back) to change my journey, I would not change a single thing, because every moment, especially the low times, has prepared me to become the player I am today,” Jemimah added.
“One thing I have also learnt is that maturity does not mean you will not make a mistake, or get it right 10 times in a row. Maturity is when you pick yourself up after a fall. This is one thing that has stuck with me, especially after the time I was dropped from the (50-over) World Cup team because I always thought ‘you cannot make a mistake’ or you cannot fall. But life happens, you make mistakes… it is all about how you pick yourself up from there,” Jemimah said.
Jemimah will team up with Australia’s multiple-time World Cup-winning captain Meg Lanning, who has been appointed the Delhi Capitals captain.
“I do not know about the rest but I am going to keep picking her brains and keep annoying her. Not everyone gets the opportunity (to learn from such stalwarts) and I am getting it and I am looking forward to it,” she said.
Jemimah added, “I think (in Meg) we have the best captain for this team because this is both a young and a senior side. The experience of Meg Lanning is going to take this team to a whole new level.
“I was very excited to play under Meg in the WBBL (Big Bash League). Also (I) had a chat with her during the Commonwealth Games. But God has placed it in such a way that I am in the same team that too as a vice-captain. Maybe, I will be the closest to her, see how she works, how she thinks, how she makes decisions. I think it is going to be a great learning experience for me, (an opportunity) for me to groom as a captain and leader; it could not be better than this,” Jemimah added.
The 22-year-old also expressed her leadership ambitions with the Indian side saying, “You cannot try for vice-captaincy but if I am going to get the opportunity then I will do whatever it takes to help India win.”
READ: WPL 2023 UP Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants Dream11 Prediction, Pitch Report
WPL Teams and Captains 2023
WPL Teams and Captains 2023: BCCI has received INR 4669.99 crores in the Women’s Premier League team Auction. Following are the details of the WPL 2023 Teams Captains:
| Team Name | Owner | City | Captain | Amount |
| Gujarat Giants | Adani Group | Ahmedabad | Beth Mooney | INR 1289 Cr |
| Mumbai Indians | Reliance Industries | Mumbai | Harmanpreet Kaur | INR 912.99 Cr |
| Royal Challengers Bangalore | Diageo | Bengaluru | Smriti Mandhana | INR 901 Cr |
| Delhi Capitals | JSW–GMR | Delhi | Meg Lanning | INR 810 Cr |
| UP Warriorz | Capri Global | Lucknow | Alyssa Healy | INR 757 Cr |
