Coming for WPL has helped us ease pain of T20 World Cup defeat, says Jemimah Rodrigues

Jemimah Rodrigues shared her thoughts on India's heartbreaking exit from the recently concluded ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2023 and the upcoming Women's Premier League 2023. The youngster said the team was not in a great space after the World Cup campaign but the upcoming WPL tournament is a blessing in disguise to keep players' minds off their memories in South Africa.

The 22-year-old batter played crucial knocks against Pakistan and Australia in the World Cup and scored 129 runs from five innings. However, India's five-run defeat in the semi-final against eventual champions Australia broke many hearts, including Jemimah's. She said that it took the team a great while to move on from the World Cup exit but entering into WPL is helping her shift focus quickly.

“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). 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,” Jemimah said during a Delhi Capitals event in Mumbai as quoted by The Indian Express.

“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 added.

I am going to keep picking Meg Lanning's brains: Jemimah Rodrigues

Delhi Capitals announced World Cup-winning star Meg Lanning as captain and Jemimah as her deputy for the upcoming WPL tournament. Jemimah has previously captained Mumbai in the Women's Senior T20 Trophy. She revealed that learning from Lanning will be a great opportunity for her and the Australian stalwart will take the team to a whole new level.

“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. 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," Jemimah added.

Delhi Capitals will kick off their WPL campaign in the second match against Royal Challengers Bangalore on March 5 at Mumbai's Brabourne Stadium.