Women's T20 World Cup 2024: "Tournament Not Over" - Jemimah Rodrigues Reacts After India’s Defeat to New Zealand

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Batter Jemimah Rodrigues has urged her Indian teammates to put behind the opening Group A encounter defeat against New Zealand, and bounce back quickly with games coming thick and fast in the Women's T20 World Cup 2024.

Harmanpreet Kaur-led Indian women's cricket team, which came in to the tournament as one of the favourites, suffered an early setback after a 58-run loss to the White Ferns at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Friday (October 4).

After skipper Sophie Devine's unbeaten fifty helped New Zealand post 160/4, India were bowled out for 102 as Rosemary Mair claimed a career best figures of 4 for 19 in her 4 overs.

The defeat does put India in a tricky position in Group A with defending champions Australia favourites to top the group that also includes Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand.

Although it was not the start they wanted in the World Cup, Rodrigues has said India need to move on and pick up themselves as there are still three more matches left in the group stage.

"Today would be the game we'd like to forget. This is a World Cup and we need to keep moving on and picking ourselves up - we can't stay stuck on this game. We need to pick ourselves up and show the character of this team," Rodrigues said in India's post-match press conference.

"Going forward I think we need to have the right approach because the tournament's not over. We need to take some positives from this game and a lot of learnings from this game."

Rodrigues, who fell for 13, owned responsibility of the batting collapse, and was annoyed at herself for not playing more of a rebuilding role after the team had slipped to 42/3.

"I know with my game I'm ready to bat anywhere the team wants me. Today, because I was batting well, I had some form in the warm-up games, it was my responsibility to make sure we built a partnership after losing wickets," the 24-year-old added.

India will next face arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday (October 6) at the same venue in Dubai. Harmanpreet & Co can't take their neighbours lightly after their campaign-opening win over Asia Cup winners Sri Lanka.