When Jemimah Rodrigues burst onto the scene as an enthusiastic teenager, it seemed that she would take the cricketing world by storm instantly. The Mumbai batter did play a couple of brilliant knocks but wasn't really able to cement her spot in the XI. As a result, when India toured England for a multi-format series in 2021, she got only a couple of matches and managed single digit scores in both the games and had to sit out the remaining ones.
It must have been hard for a cricketer like Jemimah as she wasn't part of the Indian XI in both the test matches that the team played in 2021 after a gap of almost 7 years. One against England to kick off the multi-format series and their maiden Pink Ball test match against Australia.
After sitting out in the ODIs and the test match against Australia, Jemimah was given game time in the T20I series and made an instant impact with an unbeaten 49 in the 1st T20I which put India on track for a win if not for a rain intervention.
"I think it was a matter of waiting for the right time. I have realised it now. I don't want to rush into things. I know when it has to come to me, nobody can stop it, and when it comes, it'll be something big. I was happy to be back out there after so long, I waited a long time for this. Sitting out and watching everyone play, sometimes you wonder 'when will my time come'," Rodrigues said at the post-match press conference.
"Honestly, any player would be frustrated not getting picked for the ODIs especially when I knew I was batting well and in good form. But at the end, I'm ready for what the team wants, and if the team was finding the right balance, I'm happy sitting out. There's so much to learn, but it wasn't an easy time for me. There are lots of things going on sitting out, there were a lot of doubts in my head sitting out, but I'm grateful to be a part of this team. If not for the Hundred, I don't think I would've even been selected to play for India."
Jemimah finished as the second highest scorer in the first edition of the women's Hundred. She has a bright future ahead of her if only she can bring a bit more consistency in her game.
