Jemimah Rodrigues, one of India’s standout batters, expressed her excitement and determination to use the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) as a key platform to prepare for the upcoming Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Rodrigues, who is participating in the WCPL for the first time, believes the tournament will enhance her ability to handle high-pressure situations, crucial for success on the world stage.
WCPL as a strategic preparation ground
In an interaction organized by Fancode, Rodrigues outlined how the WCPL offers a rare opportunity to engage in competitive matches before the T20 World Cup. She emphasized that these WCPL games will be her primary chance to play in real matches before the World Cup, as the rest of her preparation will be focused on individual training. For Rodrigues, playing in the WCPL is not just about honing her skills, but also about preparing herself mentally and physically for the high-pressure environment of the World Cup.
“Firstly, just to come out and play cricket because for me, that’s how I see it before the Women’s T20 World Cup. I think these are the matches that I’m actually going to get as rest all will be my own preparation,” said Rodrigues, indicating that she views the WCPL as an integral part of her World Cup build-up.
Importance of match experience
Rodrigues explained that consistently experiencing high-pressure situations in competitive matches is the most effective way to prepare for major tournaments like the Women’s T20 World Cup. She believes that facing challenging scenarios during games helps build resilience and sharpens decision-making under stress.
By putting herself in such situations through participation in the WCPL, Rodrigues feels she can better equip herself to handle the pressures of international competition, making it an essential part of her overall preparation. She said: “The more you’re in that situation and in those pressure moments, I think that’s the best preparation you can have.”
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Focusing on specific skill development
Apart from the strategic preparation, Rodrigues is also eager to implement specific skills she has been honing in practice. She acknowledged the challenge of transitioning from practice to match situations, stating that performing under real game conditions is vastly different from training scenarios. The WCPL will provide her with the perfect platform to test these skills in high-pressure matches.
“Really looking forward to…a few things that I’m working on at nets, and I am trying to implement them here,” Rodrigues added further.
Eyes set on the T20 World Cup 2024
With the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 on the horizon, Rodrigues is leaving no stone unturned in her preparation. Her participation in the WCPL is a strategic move to ensure she is in top form when the global event arrives. As one of India’s key players, her ability to adapt to pressure and execute her game plan will be crucial to India’s success in the tournament.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
