Delhi Capitals’ Jemimah Rodrigues recently shared a heart-warming incident that highlighted the increasing popularity and acceptance of women’s cricket in India. While out for ice cream with American pacer Tara Norris, Jemimah overheard a boy talking about the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2023, expressing his admiration for the women cricketers. “Kya solid khelte hai yaar ye ladki log” (Man, these girls play so well), he said. Jemimah was thrilled to hear the boy’s comment, which exemplified the growing support for women’s cricket and recognition of their talent.
“And I was like, what a moment, what a moment. It’s honest; it’s not like you meet people, they will sometimes just say it. I said no ice cream needed now; this is enough,” she added.
Despite Delhi Capitals’ loss to Mumbai Indians in the final, the WPL 2023 marked a significant step forward for women’s cricket in India. With a total of eight teams and over 140 players participating, the tournament provided a national platform for women cricketers to showcase their skills and compete at the highest level.
Led by Harmanpreet Kaur, Mumbai Indians emerged victorious in the final, capping off an exciting and successful inaugural season of the WPL. However, Jemimah had a mixed tournament, scoring only 126 runs in nine games. In the final, she was dismissed for just nine runs, contributing to Delhi Capitals’ heart-breaking defeat.
Despite this, Jemimah’s story highlights the importance of fan support for women’s cricket and its players. The success of the WPL 2023 and the growing popularity of women’s cricket in India bodes well for the future of the sport and its players.
