Ignore the numbers? India back clutch Jemimah Rodrigues to defy critics again

A paltry return of 32 runs from three innings without a single score crossing 20 is the kind of stark statistic that usually prompts immediate selection scrutiny in a high-octane tournament like the T20 World Cup. But after Sunday’s devastating six-wicket defeat to South Africa, India head coach Amol Muzumdar decided to protect his struggling number three by drawing on a very strong, very recent memory.

For Muzumdar, tournament stats are just background noise when compared to a proven pedigree of big matches. Despite Jemimah Rodrigues clearly struggling for fluency in England so far, which has culminated and he made 12 off 14 balls to halt India’s momentum in Manchesterthe coach remains completely unembarrassed. The reason is simple: India has been there before with 25-year-old Mumbai.

Only last year, during the domestic ODI World Cup, Rodrigues endured a similarly meager run before producing one of the greatest knock-out innings in the history of the women’s game. At one stage of the tournament, she dropped out of the eleven came back to smash a magical unbeaten 127 in Navi Mumbaipiloting India to a world record 339 to stun Australia in the semi-finals. It’s exactly the late-tournament redemption plan that the team’s management is now relying on.

“You just threw stats at me, but nothing alarming as far as I’m concerned,” Muzumdar said, defending himself steadfastly.

“Jemy is clutch for us. We know for a fact that when she’s good, she’ll win us a game. The scores didn’t reflect the talent she has, but I’m sure she’ll come around in the coming days.”

Sustaining this faith will test the resolve of the leadership. Rodrigues’ recent form line makes for grim reading, with only a solitary score of over fifty in her last nine international outings. With the technically proficient Yastika Bhatia and the dynamic Bharti Fulmali waiting in the wings, eager for an opportunity, the clamor to shake up the stagnant middle order outside the camp will only get louder.

2 MORE GAMES, 2 MORE WINS?

However, Muzumdar’s protective position extended across the entire team sheet, even into the field, which seriously undermined India’s defense of 158. The usually reliable Radha Yadav endured a nightmare afternoon, dropping two critical catches that allowed Marizanne Kappa to head for the boundary with impunity.

Muzumdar acknowledged the visceral reaction that such mistakes evoke among the passionate fan base at home and did not hide the raw emotion of the potato. “My hand stays on my face and stays there. It’s happening inside,” he admitted candidly. “But Radha was an exceptional world class fielder. She is a strong character and I am sure she will make up for it somewhere in this tournament.”

Of greater tactical concern to onlookers is India’s habit of losing wickets in bunches in the middle overs and dropping catches – frailties revealed in all three group matches. But where critics see a structural flaw, Muzumdar sees it as the inevitable cost of doing business under India’s mandated intrepid tactical plan.

The defeat leaves India on the ropes and turns their last two league games into absolute must-win encounters if they are to secure a place in the semi-finals. Still, ahead of a daunting clash with powerhouse Australia, the Indian camp will refuse to hit the panic button knowing their biggest player in the big match is just one innings away from a turnaround.

“Obviously it was a big game. There’s no doubt about that. But we still have 2 more games to look forward to and I have no doubt that if we play to our ability we can be on the right side of those two games,” he said.

India take on Bangladesh in their penultimate group stage match in Manchester on Thursday before taking on Australia at Lord’s on Sunday.

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

22 Jun 2026 09:00 IST