Jemimah Rodrigues was part of the first ODI of the series, which took place in Mullapur, scoring 18 runs off 26 balls, while India scored a total of 281/7. Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, and Harleen Deol contributed runs in India’s total, yet Australia got to the total with a solid partnership from Phoebe Litchfield and Beth Mooney. Once the first ODI was over, Rodrigues fell sick with a viral fever and was ruled out of the rest of the matches in this series.
This is a huge blow for India, given Rodrigues’ experience, steadiness, and finishing ability, especially in the middle-order, is now gone. This will force Indian selectors to rethink their batting order for the second and third ODIs.
Tejal Hasabnis: The Replacement.
Tejal Hasabnis, a right-handed batter from Maharashtra, has been called up in place of Jemimah Rodrigues. She has played six ODIs for India, scoring 140 runs and averaging 46.66 with a highest score of 53*.
Hasabnis has shown form and done well in List A domestic cricket, and the BCCI selection panel is confident she will fill Rodrigues’ void. Hasabnis is still not as experienced at the international level as Rodrigues, but she provides flexibility in the middle order that is crucial when taking the formidable Australian batting lineup.
Effect on India’s ODI Lineup
The loss of Jemimah Rodrigues will shake up the balance in the Indian middle order, and India will probably fill in the gaps with Deepti Sharma and Harleen Deol to have some stability.
This will take effect in the second ODI, after September 17, in Mullanpur. The focus will be on building partnerships in the second half of the innings. More importantly, Rodrigues’ absence will have implications for India’s World Cup plans. As a principal member of the UK ODI unit for the last two years, she has been a constant source of runs, as well as being able to take the strike. Now, Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur will take on that pressure in absorbing the role of experienced batters so that the younger guys can, too.
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Revised Indian Team in the remaining ODIs.
- Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain)
- Smriti Mandhana (Vice-Captain)
- Pratika Rawal
- Harleen Deol
- Deepti Sharma
- Renuka Singh Thakur
- Arundhati Reddy
- Richa Ghosh (Wicketkeeper)
- Kranti Gaud
- Sayali Satghare
- Radha Yadav
- Sree Charani
- Sneh Rana
- Uma Chetry (Wicketkeeper)
- Tejal Hasabnis
Standby players: Prema Rawat, Priya Mishra (NDTV)
World Cup Implications
The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 is set to commence on September 30, 2025. The health of Jemimah Rodrigues will be of concern, since her involvement should be a factor in India’s campaign. This may be a problem in match practice, and the continuation of the team momentum leading to the World Cup should she not be available in ODIs.
While Tejal Hasabnis has been named in the middle-order as an alternative to the playing XI, Rodrigues’ current in-form batting – especially in international chases – will be slightly difficult to replicate. The team management will really have their hands full to cover for Jemimah’s absence alongside their match-day strategy.
Expert Insights
Cricket analysts claim that the omission of Jemimah Rodrigues is a tactical issue. She possesses the traits of a player who can play under pressure and complete innings, two exceedingly crucial qualities against Australia, one former India coach said. It is anticipated that India will trust the experience of their older batters to stabilize the ship, and the young players, such as Hasabnis, will be allowed an opportunity to learn to play under pressure.
Key Takeaways
- Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out of the final two ODIs against Australia (since 3/25).
- Tejal Hasabnis has been named her replacement, and Hasabnis has ODI experience with her domestic record in good form.
- There is likely to be some reshuffling in the middle-order for the remaining matches in the series.
- Currently, Rodrigues’ fitness is being monitored for the World Cup, and India will have a strategy accordingly.
- Australia is leading the series 1-0, so the remaining 50-over matches will be important for the Indians.
Amit Mishra’s Take:
Jemimah Rodrigues has been absent for the last two ODIs against Australia, and it presents more than a short-term problem. It is going to test the depth and flexibility of India. Rodrigues has been a dependable keeper of the middle-order as the team finds stability in a chase and relies on Rodrigues’s steady head in moments of pressure. Tejal Hasabnis enters the equation with promise, but senior batters Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur will need to step up and share some of that responsibility. Also, going forward, it will be important to monitor Rodrigues’s fitness not solely as it relates to the last two ODIs but candidly leading up to the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025. The next two ODIs will not serve as a common ODI but are a precursor to India’s intent circling around aggression and resilience.
FAQ
Q: Why is Jemimah Rodrigues not playing?
A: She has a viral fever and is going to miss the rest of the ODIs vs Australia.
Q: Who is the replacement?
A: Tejal Hasabnis, a right-handed batter, has been announced as the replacement.
Q: Does she miss the World Cup?
A: At present, she has been ruled out of the ODIs, but the BCCI is monitoring her situation for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Q: What does this mean for India’s squad?
A: The Middle order is out of balance, and they will have to have experienced batters to help with the middle order as Hasabnis adjusts to international cricket.
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