Leading Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues stated on Thursday that she will be more equipped to handle pressure in the forthcoming T20 World Cup thanks to her first experience in the women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL).
In the WCPL, Rodrigues will play for the Trinbago Knight Riders, who open their campaign on Friday against the reigning champion Barbados Royals.
“Firstly, just to come out and play cricket because for me, that’s how I see it before the (Women’s) T20 World Cup (2024). I think these are the matches that I’m actually going to get as rest all will be my own preparation,” Rodrigues said in an interaction organised by the Fancode.
“The more you’re in that situation and in those pressure moments, I think that’s the best preparation you can have. So, for me, I look at it (WCPL) more as a preparation for the T20 World Cup,” she added.
Even though the most of the conversation was about the WCPL, Rodrigues mentioned that she will strive to improve her hitting in a few areas before the World Cup.
Due to political upheaval in Bangladesh, the global governing body decided to move the ICC showpiece from that country to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next month.
“Really looking forward to…a few things that I’m working on at nets and I am trying to implement them here.
“Because when you do it in practice, it’s different. But when you do it in a match, it’s way different.”
But Rodrigues’s immediate objective is to assist the Knight Riders in winning the WCPL championship.
In addition, she said, “playing for TKR has given me an additional obligation to do everything in my power to ensure my team wins in the end.”
Veteran Indian bowler Shikha Pandey, who will play for TKR as well, expressed her happiness at Jhulan Goswami, an old teammate, joining the Knight Riders as their trainer.
“I did feel that I’ll be in an environment with her around also because of the WPL. So, this doesn’t come in as a shocker that she’s here. It’s really nice for her to be here as a mentor. I kind of know her psyche. I played alongside her.
“So, I have a fair idea about what she wants me to do. So, it’s been really nice for me to be in the same team as her,” said Pandey.
