Young middle-order batter, Jemimah Rodrigues, has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series. BCCI released an official statement stating that Jemimah Rodrigues has been ruled out of the remainder of the ODI series against Australia due to viral fever. The medical team of BCCI will be monitoring her progress and ensuring she gets fit before the start of the World Cup. For now, Tejal Hasabnis has been named the replacement for Jemimah Rodrigues.
The Australia series just before the start of the World Cup is a good opportunity for Team India to warm up and find gaps to improve before the World Cup. One of the major gaps India has is depth in the middle-order. However, batters like Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol and Richa Ghosh have given India reliable hope for the World Cup.
Rodrigues has been a key player in the Indian batting line-up for a few years now. Jemimah batted at several positions before Amol Muzumdar, Indian Women’s Team Head Coach, decided to make her bat at No. 5. She has scored 475 runs from 10 innings with an average of 47.50 and a strike rate of 108.44. She has also scored two centuries and one half-century.
Jemimah scored the second-highest score (123 runs in 101 balls) while batting at No. 5, at a strike rate of 121.78 against South Africa. She scored her 2nd century against Sri Lanka while playing at No. 4 and 5, resulting in the positive outcome behind the coach’s strategy to make her bat at No. 5. Her recent form in the away England series was significant for Team India. Jemimah scored 101 runs in the series against England. Her average was 33.66, while her strike rate was 94.39, along with one half-century in the series.
Jemimah’s role was crucial in the World Cup, as in recent matches, she has stepped up and taken responsibility during the tricky middle overs, preventing potential collapses and giving firm competitive totals against the opposition. Jemimah Rodrigues has significantly improved her batting skills, focusing more on fitness, running between the wickets and power-hitting. Her hard work has impacted her ability to anchor the innings and accelerate in the middle overs. Rodrigues’ absence would force the Indian team to think about changing the batting line-up.
Jemimah is all set to play her 1st ODI World Cup and represent the nation. Jemimah is a household name for her performance as well as her presence on social media. The young 25-year-old batter is quite active on social media, engaging with fans and keeping them updated. The medical team of the BCCI has prioritised the World Cup over the ODI series as it is important for players to stay fresh and fit before the start of the World Cup. The viral fever is, however, not a long-term concern. Hence, it is expected that Rodrigues will recover quickly and return to the Indian side before the team starts their World Cup campaign.
Tejal Hasabnis is therefore named the replacement for Jemimah Rodrigues. Hasabnis made her debut for the national side in October 2024 against Ireland. She has played in WODIs, scoring 140 runs with an average of 46.66 and a strike rate of 78.65, including a half-century in her second game against Ireland.
Rodrigues’ absence will be a setback for India, but it will also be an opportunity to test the bench strength. The decision to rule out Rodrigues highlights Team India’s long-term vision, keeping the World Cup in mind. As the countdown to the World Cup begins, the team focuses on improving the gaps and preparing to give their best.
