India’s women’s cricket team is riding a wave of confidence at the ICC Women’s World Cup, even without delivering a flawless performance yet. Middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues said on Wednesday that it might be “scary” for opponents to see India continue winning despite not having a perfect game, highlighting the team’s depth and resilience.
Winning Streak Continues Despite Challenges
India faced tricky situations against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, where late-order contributions proved decisive. Rodrigues praised the ability of the team to claw back in difficult moments. “We have not had our perfect match yet, but we are still on the winning streak,” she said ahead of India’s match against South Africa.
Rodrigues noted that in a long tournament like the World Cup, timing peaks matters as much as consistency. The team has managed to maintain momentum through small but crucial contributions across the batting lineup, ensuring that victories keep coming even when top performances are missing.
Emergence of New Match-Winners
One key factor behind India’s success has been the emergence of new players stepping up at critical times. Rodrigues emphasized the importance of discovering fresh match-winners and keeping opponents guessing. “We have had small contributions from the top-order and the middle-order. It’s more of a motivation when we know that even though we didn’t have a perfect game yet, we are still winning,” she said.
This adaptability gives India an edge, as it prevents over-reliance on the usual stars and allows different players to shine. It also adds an element of unpredictability, making it harder for opponents to strategize.
Avoiding Pressure for Perfection
While the team has shown remarkable resilience, Rodrigues cautioned against chasing perfection. She believes maintaining focus and executing basics will naturally lead to peak performances. “It’s important for us to not be too desperate to get that perfect game, just step back, do our job correctly and that game will come,” Rodrigues said.
Her advice underlines a mature approach, emphasizing consistency over flashy performances. Each player taking responsibility in crucial moments creates a collective strength that is hard to counter.
Solid Start Despite Openers’ Slow Fire
Rodrigues also addressed concerns over India’s opening pair, Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal, who have yet to deliver big scores in the tournament. She highlighted that their partnerships have still been productive. “If you have seen all the matches till now, our opening partnership has been the highest,” Rodrigues noted.
This steady foundation allows the middle and lower order to play with confidence, knowing there is enough support at the top. It also gives India flexibility in approach, letting the team adapt to match situations rather than being constrained by early setbacks.
Looking Ahead to South Africa Clash
As India prepares to face South Africa, Rodrigues stressed the importance of peaking at the right time. Maintaining momentum, discovering new match-winners, and staying patient for the perfect game remain central to the team’s strategy.
“Each individual standing up and putting their hand up to take the team to victory is what counts,” she said. It’s a mindset that has kept India on top despite challenges and could be the key to lifting the trophy.
India’s journey so far illustrates a blend of resilience, adaptability, and team spirit. While the perfect game remains elusive, the team’s winning streak and the emergence of new stars indicate that India is building momentum at exactly the right moment. Cricket fans will be watching closely as the tournament unfolds to see if this balance of patience and skill propels India to the ultimate prize.
