COVID-19 made me realize life's more than just cricket: Jemimah Rodrigues

The COVID-19-induced break served as a 'blessing in disguise' for me as it helped overcome the heart-wrenching defeat that India
COVID-19 made me realize life's more than just cricket: Jemimah Rodrigues

NEW DELHI: The COVID-19-induced break served as a 'blessing in disguise' for me as it helped overcome the heart-wrenching defeat that India suffered in the women's T20 World Cup final against Australia in March, India's top-order batswoman Jemimah Rodrigues has revealed.

On March 8, hosts Australia shattered India's dream of winning their maiden World Cup in front of a record crowd at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. That match turned out to be the last women's international this year.

"It's never easy coming back after the World Cup. We were in Australia for more than a month and a half. Also, losing the World Cup was also not easy, both mentally and emotionally," Jemimah, 20, told IANS in an exclusive interview.

"You need some time to recover and get back into the groove. So, the lockdown has been a blessing in disguise to get back to that emotional space that we normally like to be in. However, the break has been there for too long. We can't just wait to get back on to the field and play cricket," she said.

In the last edition of the women's T20 World Cup, Australia scripted their fifth triumph, defeating the Harmanpreet Kaur-led young Indian team by 85 runs in the final. And Jemimah feels it was the lack of execution that led to the team's defeat.

"It was the execution of the plan which according to me led to our defeat. Australia had a plan, they stuck to it, and executed it well. We also had a plan, but the execution couldn't come from our side. So, I guess we lacked on the execution part."

The young player from Mumbai revealed the biggest lessons she has learned in the past six months, during the Covid-induced lockdown. "I realised how blessed we are. We travel to places and are playing cricket. But all of a sudden, everything came to a halt and I was able to spend some time with myself and with my family," she said.

"I realised life is more than just cricket. Cricket is a great sport and I love playing it and once I get back to the field, I will surely give my 100 per cent. But cricket is just a part of my life. There are many more things in my life such as family, friends which are equally important," she emphasised.

"During the lockdown I realised so many people are struggling to get their basic needs fulfilled. However, I was blessed to have a house, a family to be my side to take care of me, had food to eat, and water to drink -- small-small things that we often take for granted."

After the pandemic impacted the entire world since early this year, the women's World Cup, which was scheduled to be played in February next year in New Zealand, has been postponed until 2022. And Jemimah believes the postponement has allowed the team to prepare better for the prestigious tournament. IANSĀ 

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