I really look up to Virat Kohli: Jemimah Rodrigues

In the match against Mumbai Indians in the ongoing Women’s Premier League 2024, Jemimah Rodrigues played a blistering knock of 69* runs off 33 deliveries, which helped Delhi Capitals post 192 runs in the first innings. As a batter, she has a reputation of someone who has sublime timing and not someone who hits massive sixes. Thus, playing an attacking innings in the last game helped Jemimah establish her authority against quality bowlers.

Even in the match against Mumbai, Jemimah didn’t change her gameplay and mostly dealt with boundaries. When Shabnim Ismail bowled a slow cutter at just 88.9kph, the 23-year-old went down on a knee and slog-swept to the wide long-on boundary for a boundary instead of going for the glory shot. After the match, the India international mentioned that she is that ‘kind of player’ and added that she looks up to Virat Kohli and tries to follow in the footsteps of the former India captain.

“I knew coming into the WPL you need all sorts of shots, and I can’t stick to (certain shots) and say, ‘I’m this kind of player’. For me, I need to put a little more effort than the others to hit those sixes. But I rely a lot on my timing and my bat swing. I think today it came off really well, and for me, even if you see my sixes, I don’t try to hit sixes, I try to hit the ball in the gap. If it’s hit too well, it goes for a six,” Rodrigues was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.

“That’s something I’ve learnt from Virat Kohli; he does that really well. I really look up to him because we have similar (batting) positions in the Indian team. The way he goes about [his game], he runs well between the wickets, (and) he has intent while batting. Even if he hits sixes, he hits it in the gaps. So if he hits it well, it’s either two runs, four or a six. That’s what I try and imply in my game too,” she added.

Meanwhile, the Capitals defeated Mumbai by 29 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, which strengthened their position at the top of the table. Up next, they will challenge UP Warriorz on March 8 and a win in that game can cement their spot in the playoffs.