WPL 2026: Jemimah Rodrigues defiant despite setback in opener, backs swift comeback

Captain Jemimah Rodrigues chose resilience over regret after Delhi Capitals’ campaign in the ongoing Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026 began with a bruising defeat, insisting that one poor night would not define either her leadership or the team’s season.

Delhi suffered a heavy 50-run loss to defending champions Mumbai Indians at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Saturday, a result that marked a tough WPL captaincy debut for Jemimah. Chasing a mammoth target of 196, the Capitals were bowled out for 145 in 19 overs; their innings never got going and couldn’t find the momentum for such a herculean chase.

Chinelle Henry was the lone bright spot in their innings, scoring a fighting 56 off 33 balls, but it wasn't meant to be against the defending champions. Despite the emphatic margin of defeat, Jemimah remained composed and forward-looking. She felt they bowled reasonably well, but pointed to missed partnerships rather than effort as the decisive factor.

“We bowled well, but we couldn’t build partnerships with the bat. We’ll work on that. It’s a different team, so we can’t be too harsh on ourselves. I’m confident we will bounce back,” Jemimah said at the post-match presentation ceremony.

The match held personal significance for the 24-year-old, who was leading for the first time in the WPL following Meg Lanning’s departure. The moment felt more special with her parents in the stands, witnessing a milestone in her career. While the result was far from ideal, Jemimah underlined the importance of perspective and quick recovery in a tightly packed tournament.

“I did have fun captaining. To be here, in front of my parents and at home, was great. Tough start. Low turnaround is a good thing, as we won't dwell on it. A good team keeps such games aside. We hope to do that,” she added.

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Jemimah & Co. face Gujarat Giants next

Jemimah herself endured a rather forgettable outing with the bat, managing just one run off three deliveries before being dismissed by the experienced pacer Shabnim Ismail. However, the Mumbai-born made it clear that neither her personal performance nor the opening loss would alter the team’s broader approach to the competition.

With little time to reflect, the Delhi-based franchise now turns the attention to a quick turnaround as they prepare to face Ashleigh Gardener-led Gujarat Giants in their next fixture on Sunday, also in Navi Mumbai. It will be an interesting battle, as both the sides are looking for their first win of the season.