Jemi all set to make her captaincy debut against stunned MI, who will have to pick themselves after last night’s agony.
Jemi Rodrigues set for captaincy debut against wounded Mumbai Indians.
There was a lot of excitement when the Delhi Capitals (DC) announced their captain during a news conference prior to the WPL’s first season. They included Meg Lanning, an Australian World Cup winner on multiple occasions. However, they had made a strong bid during the auction for Jemimah Rodrigues. They had defeated Rodrigues’ hometown team, the Mumbai Indians, and acquired the Indian batsman for INR 2.2 crore.
Lanning had just led Australia to their fourth T20 World Cup victory as captain, thus it was obvious that she should be named captain. Nonetheless, Rodrigues’ campaign was compelling, in part because JSW Sports, the DC co-owners’ sports division, oversees her. She wouldn’t have been unfamiliar with the position. She had previously served as Mumbai’s Under-19 cricket captain. She went on to top the batting rankings and guide Mumbai to the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy in 2023–2024.
Rodrigues currently spends time in the sun after serving as Lanning’s deputy, one of the sport’s brightest minds. At a time when the team is looking for the next big step, she assumes the role of DC captain. In all three editions, they came in second. Her hit in the World Cup semi-final was historic, and the responsibility comes at a time when her batting graph is also improving.
Rodrigues is DC’s third-highest run scorer as a hitter, and among those who have faced at least 50 balls in the phase, her strike rate of 207.4 in the end (overs 17–20) is the second-best. Doing both at once is difficult.
Her maiden WPL match as captain takes place against Harmanpreet Kaur’s Mumbai Indians (MI), who are not only consistent victors but also have a strong track record of overcoming adversity. The competition’s first night, when they were twice pushed back but managed to get back, served as evidence.
Many fresh beginnings for Indian women’s cricket have occurred in the DY Patil Stadium, including the World Cup victory itself, the launch of the WPL, and India’s winning streak. It will add another chapter on Saturday when it serves as the location of Rodrigues’ WPL leadership.