WPL 2024: Mandhana, Lanning, Kohli help fashion Jemimah Rodrigues' new-look T20 batting

Delhi Capitals middle-order batter and vice-captain Jemimah Rodrigues. (Photo: X)

As statements of intent go, few at the ongoing WPL 2024 have been as resounding as Delhi Capitals middle-order batter and vice-captain Jemimah Rodrigues’ 33-ball 69 during her side’s 29-run win over reigning champions Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday, March 5.

That’s down to the fact that India international Rodrigues, 23, has traditionally been considered an accumulator with a mostly one-dimensional style of play that’s majorly reliant on along-the ground shots rather than the usual brand of power-hitting that taller, more strongly-built contemporaries of a relatively short-statured Rodrigues possess. In fact, Rodrigues, who usually bats Nos 3, 4 or 5 in the Indian T20I side, has often copped criticism for not displaying enough “intent” — a word that’s thrown around far too often and loosely in cricketing conversations by coaches and pundits alike — to take her batting to the next level.

However, though the sample size could be debated, Rodrigues’ 24-ball 42 in Capitals opening game of WPL 2024 against Mumbai Indians in Bengaluru and in the reverse fixture on Tuesday have given a glimpse into the direction Rodrigues’ T20 batting might be heading in.

A friend in need, indeed: Smriti Mandhana

Among those Rodrigues attributed her fearlessness in her 69 to, was a good friend and India team-mate of hers. “One thing that really changed in this innings for me was, earlier I was going out and seeing everyone just hitting the ball,” Rodrigues said at the post-match presser. “From the first ball, that’s what I would try and do as well, but my game is very different. Even Smriti messaged me after the previous game saying, ‘Just be Jemimah Rodrigues and you’ll be fine’. So, I just stuck to my game today. I pierced the gaps well, ran hard between the wickets, hit through the gaps and if it was hit well, it went for six.”

Bettering six-hitting, thanks to Virat Kohli

“Also, if you see my sixes, I don't try to hit sixes. I try to hit the ball in the gap,” said Rodrigues. “If it's hit too well it goes for a six. And I think that is something I learnt from Virat Kohli. I think he does that really well, and I really look up to him because we have similar positions in the Indian team. The way he goes about things, he runs well between the wickets, he has intent while batting. Even when he hits sixes, he hits it in the gaps. So, if he hits it, it's either two runs, four runs or a six if he hits it too well. So, I think that's what I try to implement in my game, too.

Learning from an all-time great: Meg Lanning

Capitals captain Meg Lanning’s breezy 50, crowned by a brace of 4, 6, 4 in the 12th over bowled by legspinner Amelia Kerr, also found a mention. “Those shots by Meg got me crazy pumped up,” said Rodrigues. “I don’t know why it almost felt like I hit those boundaries when she was hitting them. I didn't really pick Meg’s brain regarding those shots, though. I spoke to her more about captaincy and stuff. But yes, my strength is also the offside and playing along with the field, so I just tried to be myself today rather than trying to be anyone else.”

Onus on feet movement and urge to evolve

“More than anything else, today was about what I needed to do to help the team to a good score. I didn’t think it would lead to a 33-ball 69,” Rodrigues said. “What was good about my game today was that right from the start I had the intent. Even though I didn’t go bang, bang, bang from the first ball, in my stride, the way I was timing the ball, I think that intent got me going and got my feet in the right positions.”

“I think cricket is a game where you need to keep improving,” she added. ”When you’re coming into the WPL, you never know when you will need all sorts of shots. I can't stick to one thing and say that, ‘OK, I'm this kind of a player and stick to that’. I need to keep improving with the game. Working on power hitting was not something I did just now or just before the WPL. It's been a long process for so many years, and has been about just going out, and hitting those sixes time and time again. For me, I need to put a little more effort than the others to hit sixes but I rely a lot on my timing and my bat swing. Today, that came off really well.”