NEW DELHI: India’s best drummer Jemima Rodrigues was one of the most searched players during the recent Women’s Premier League auction where the Capitals of Delhi splurged a whopping Rs 2.2 crore to snap up the rising star – making her the fifth most expensive player.
The youngster also shone during the recent Women’s T20 World Championship Cup where the 22-year-old was India’s third top scorer behind Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh.
But like most female cricketers in the country, the Mumbai batsman faced many challenges on her path to success. Reminiscing about her youth, Rodrigues shared how her family supported her and helped her achieve her dreams.
“It wasn’t the easiest trip, but that’s what helped me the most. Every day my dad used to throw 300 balls when I was hitting. I learned that later, but my mum told me he used to come back and his hand was all sore he couldn’t lift it my mum used to massage it every night but he never told me he wanted just getting better and better,” Jemimah said on an episode of “Know Your Stars.” available on JioCinema.
In fact, it was only by pure chance that her father Ian spotted his daughter’s talent. He sent her to replace one of his brothers in a U-16 game at the request of the school coach.
“Jemimah came in at bat. I thought she would come out quick. I came in after an hour and a half or two and she was still playing. Those big boys, it was an U-16 game. They were giving her chocolates for a hold. But nothing to do as she kept punching!” remembers Ivan.
Ivan also revealed that Jemimah signed her first autograph that day. “A gentleman saw her hitting, then came later and took her autograph saying it would be difficult to get her signature when she becomes a big player. He always calls me when he sees her hitting,” he added.
The youngster also shone during the recent Women’s T20 World Championship Cup where the 22-year-old was India’s third top scorer behind Smriti Mandhana and Richa Ghosh.
But like most female cricketers in the country, the Mumbai batsman faced many challenges on her path to success. Reminiscing about her youth, Rodrigues shared how her family supported her and helped her achieve her dreams.
“It wasn’t the easiest trip, but that’s what helped me the most. Every day my dad used to throw 300 balls when I was hitting. I learned that later, but my mum told me he used to come back and his hand was all sore he couldn’t lift it my mum used to massage it every night but he never told me he wanted just getting better and better,” Jemimah said on an episode of “Know Your Stars.” available on JioCinema.
In fact, it was only by pure chance that her father Ian spotted his daughter’s talent. He sent her to replace one of his brothers in a U-16 game at the request of the school coach.
“Jemimah came in at bat. I thought she would come out quick. I came in after an hour and a half or two and she was still playing. Those big boys, it was an U-16 game. They were giving her chocolates for a hold. But nothing to do as she kept punching!” remembers Ivan.
Ivan also revealed that Jemimah signed her first autograph that day. “A gentleman saw her hitting, then came later and took her autograph saying it would be difficult to get her signature when she becomes a big player. He always calls me when he sees her hitting,” he added.
Thinking back to those early days, Jemimah said: “We used to play house with a plastic ball. My dad used to play under the arm and those balls were swinging around a lot. I had l I used to do my typing exercises with them. That’s where I learned my cover, at home. We had a very small house at the time, five of us lived there.
Jemimah’s perseverance has paid off as she made her T20I debut for India in 2018 and has now scored 1,704 runs for India in 80 T20I. She will now aim to top the race leaderboards in the WPL which begins on March 4.
(With contributions from IANS)
