While nothing must be going right for the Indian team before the ICC Women’s World Cup 2026, there is hope against hope, that something special might be in the offing. After the same team went on to win the 50 over World Cup in November last year, maybe, despite the setbacks and form, IND can produce magic. At least batter Jemimah Rodrigues believes so.
India aim to lift T20 World Cup 2026
On the eve of their tournament opener, she opened up about how the team is visualising, ‘lifting the trophy’. “Lifting that trophy! This morning, we visualised it. We do that as a team. It’s part of our usual process, where we sit together and visualise because we believe that if you see something long enough, you start moving in that direction,” she said before the IND vs PAK match. “That is the theme of our team. We did it during the 2025 World Cup. Amol sir has made it a point for us to do it here as well, and we’ll continue doing that.”
But that doesn’t change the fact, India lost 1-4 to SA recently, then 1-2 to ENG, and also the warm-up match against the hosts. They don’t have their regular all-rounders Amanjot Kaur, Kashvee Gautam, and the problems just don’t end there.
“The preparation has been excellent. We’ve had great camps and this team is looking really confident. We didn’t have a great series against South Africa, but sometimes a defeat teaches you a lot more than winning. We’ve made notes of those lessons, worked on them, and now we can’t wait to get out there and play some good cricket,” Jemi added.
Pressure of IND vs PAK clash?
And is there going to be the same IND vs PAK game pressure? Yes, feels the no. 3 batter, who has been in some good nick in the last few months. When even the watchman of her building tells her not to lose against PAK, there is pressure without even saying.
“I remember when I played my first India-Pakistan game. In the dressing room, Harman di actually spoke to us, saying, ‘Let’s not deny it. There is pressure from the outside because we know the history of India versus Pakistan. We know what the fans expect,'” Rodrigues said. “Even my building watchman says, ‘Lose to anyone, but not against Pakistan.’ That is the kind of pressure because people love cricket. They love this rivalry.”
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