Jemimah Rodrigues believes India’s response to their T20 World Cup upset against New Zealand will showcase the team’s character. Their semi-final prospects are now under pressure in Group A, often considered the ‘group of death,’ following New Zealand’s 58-run win in Dubai and Pakistan’s fightback against Sri Lanka.
Defending champions Australia begin their campaign on Saturday, while South Africa joined Bangladesh at the top of Group B after defeating West Indies. India, meanwhile, face a challenge after being bowled out for 102 chasing 161, with only captain Harmanpreet Kaur (15) and Rodrigues (13) offering resistance. New Zealand seamers Rosemary Mair (4 for 19) and Lea Tahuhu (3 for 15) led the bowling effort.
Rodrigues emphasized the need for India to quickly move past the loss. “This is a World Cup, and we can’t dwell on this game. We need to show our character by bouncing back, taking it one match at a time,” she said.
Suzie Bates and Georgia Plimmer built New Zealand’s win with a 67-run opening stand, followed by captain Sophie Devine’s unbeaten 57 off 36 balls. For a side that struggled in the 2023 T20 World Cup, this was a major turnaround.
Rodrigues noted that India expected New Zealand’s aggressive start but regretted missing key opportunities. She also downplayed a controversial run-out decision involving Amelia Kerr, emphasizing that India moved on quickly and dismissed Kerr soon after. Despite challenging conditions in Dubai, Rodrigues stressed that the team is familiar with the heat and ready to improve in the next game.
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