‘Our responsibility is to leave the jersey in a better place’ – Jemimah Rodrigues ahead of India Women’s tour of England

Promising batter Jemimah Rodrigues is one of the few youngsters selected in the squad for India’s all-format tour to England. When the Women in Blue last played a Test match in 2014, Rodrigues was just 14 and juggling between cricket and hockey. After seven years, the now 20-year-old will get to experience the red-ball format if selected to play in the eleven.

Naturally, the right-handed batter is excited and wants to leave a mark for the next generation of cricketers. She has also pledged to “leave the jersey in a better place” as India are set to embark on a very special tour. The other youngsters in the squad the likes of Shafali Verma, Radha Yadav, and Priya Punia too will also get to finally experience the purest format.

“Our greatest responsibility is to honour those who have been before us and those who will come after, to ‘leave the JERSEY in a better place’. This series and the series henceforth, we are playing for a far bigger cause than what we realise, we are playing for every single girl who desires to play this sport,” Jemimah wrote on Instagram.

 

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A post shared by Jemimah Jessica Rodrigues (@jemimahrodrigues)

The Indian team is currently in Mumbai undergoing strict quarantine for 14 days. The women team will depart with the men’s team on June 02 and play a four-day Test Match first-up starting on June 16.

Jemimah Rodrigues optimistic ahead of the England Tour

The newly appointed head coach Ramesh Powar also had a few words of encouragement for his troops and shred anecdotes from the past to help make the team realise what it means to be part of a rich legacy.

“So today Ramesh sir called us for a team meeting and showed us the history we have of women’s cricket in India. From when it first started to where it has reached today. The ones who were before us made it possible for us to be a part of what we are today,” Jemimah stated.

The yesteryear players the likes of Shantha Rangaswamy, Diana Edulji, Sandhya Agarwal, and Shubhangi Kulkarni blew their own money to play cricket and got very less recognition during their time.

“The ones who did it without the recognition they deserved. The ones who brought women’s cricket in India. Then the two legends of Indian women’s cricket Mithu di and Jhulu di came up and shared with the entire team what cricket has meant to them and what it’s like being a part of this Legacy,” Jemimah added.