‘Virat Kohli played such an extraordinary knock’ – Jemimah Rodrigues opens up on inspiration behind her heroics against Pakistan

Jemimah Rodrigues, the Indian Women’s batting star in the Women’s 20-20 World Cup match against Pakistan, has revealed that Virat Kohli’s MCG heroics in the Men’s 20-20 World Cup last year inspired her. Rodrigues (53* off 38) was named Player of the Match as India Women defeated Pakistan Women by seven wickets in their first match of the tour on Sunday, February 12 in Newlands, Cape Town.

Kohli scored a heroic 82* off 53 balls as India defeated Pakistan by four wickets in a thrilling match in Melbourne during the 2022 Men’s T20 World Cup. As India chased down 160, the game came down to the final ball. Rodrigues admitted in an interview with the Apex Cricket Council that Kohli’s heroics against Babar Azam and company inspired her.

“India vs Pakistan matches are always a little bit more special – we spoke about it in the team meeting. Growing up we always watched these matches. I remember watching the match at the MCG where Virat Kohli played such an extraordinary knock,” she said.

“We did speak about it but we also just wanted to go out there and put our first win on the board. We just wanted to go out, play the same cricket and with the same intensity as usual. I knew we had to build partnerships, and I knew if we took it deep we will win,’ the 22-year-old said.

India Women were chasing 150 when skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was dismissed for 16 in the 14th over, top-edging Nashra Sandhu. Ghosh, on the other hand, came in and took the attack to the Pakistan bowlers. Rodrigues, who anchored the Indian innings, then finished the game with a bang, smacking three fours in the 19th over and reaching her half-century.

This was a team effort: Jemimah Rodrigues

Reflecting on the memorable victory, Rodrigues admitted that the wicket was difficult to bat on, but that they knew bad balls would come if they remained patient.

“We knew they would bowl a bad ball eventually and we would capitalise – it was a difficult wicket but being set helped. This was a team effort. We will let the win sink in, but the tournament has just begun. We want to do the simple things correctly and then the results will take care of themselves,” she said.