Jemimah Rodrigues named Woman Cricketer of the Year by SJAM

Jemimah Rodrigues, who was named as the Woman Cricketer of the Year at the Annual Awards ceremony of the Sports Journalists’ Association of Mumbai (SJAM), said that she is preparing with boys for the upcoming World Twenty20, which gets underway in the Caribbean from November 9.

“Now I am preparing for the World Cup and I am preparing with the boys at the MIG (Club). It’s my first World Cup and it’s more of a mental preparation,” Rodrigues said at the event on Thursday (October 11). “I am also practising at the Bandra Kurla Complex with the senior women’s Mumbai team.”

The last few months have been eventful for Rodrigues, who was recently signed up by Baseline Ventures, the sports management firm who also manages Smriti Mandhana. She burst into the limelight with 1013 runs in 11 matches for Mumbai in the inter-state Under-19 competition in 2017-18, which included a double-century against Saurashtra. She also impressed in the senior’s 50-over Challenger Trophy, and went on to make an impressive debut for India in South Africa.

Not a regular in the side after that, she once again prospered in the recently concluded Twenty20 International series in Sri Lanka. She topped the batting charts with 191 runs in four innings batting at No 3 at a strike-rate of 155.28, as India claimed the series 4-0.

Looking back at the year gone by, she remembered the advice Sachin Tendulkar gave her when she visited the legend’s house in Bandra before leaving for South Africa.

“Sachin called me at his home and made me feel comfortable. He told me that the wickets in South Africa will be bouncy, but it’s all in the mind,” she recalled. “He said, the ball comes nicely on to the bat. There are two things, to think positive or negative. I believe it is important to go on a positive note.”

Rodrigues, who celebrated her 18th birthday last month, has already made an impression with her athleticism. A celebrated hockey player at the school level, she credited the sport for her fitness. “One of the major things that hockey has given me is help (improve my) fitness (level).” Rodrigues added that she is going to play her natural game in the World T20. “I will just keep playing as I do.”

India are in Group B based out of Guyana. They will play the inaugural match of the tournament against New Zealand on November 9. Australia, Pakistan and Ireland are the other teams in the group. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinals in Antigua.