Each Jemimah Rodrigues and Shubha Satheesh received their Take a look at caps on Thursday morning on the DY Patil Stadium, however their journey within the sport until right here couldn’t have been in starker distinction.
Jemimah, a prodigy from her days in Mumbai age-group cricket, had already performed 113 occasions for India on the senior stage in white-ball cricket. Shubha, a left-field choice to India’s Take a look at squad after impressing in an intra-squad red-ball sport final month in Bengaluru, is a relative unknown who was taking part in her first-ever senior worldwide.
Jemimah, at 23, has confronted sufficient highs and lows in her profession to maybe fill a e book, whereas Shubha’s story is just starting. Each time Jemimah – and her teammates – hit a boundary in the course of the day, the broadcaster’s feed featured her face prominently as a part of a model she endorses. For Shubha, the bat face was clean and not using a sponsor’s sticker.
Once they got here collectively to bat on Day 1 of the one-off Take a look at towards England although, all that mattered was their compact batting method and classical strokeplay that noticed them add 115 runs, with each scoring half-centuries. After Shubha and Jemimah, it was captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Yastika Bhatia’s flip to placed on a century stand. Then got here a late rearguard from Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana for the seventh wicket price 92 runs.
6⃣8⃣ Runs
9⃣9⃣ Balls
1⃣1⃣ Fours@JemiRodrigues put up a stable present with the bat to attain a half-century on her Take a look at debut. 👏 👏 #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBankRelive that knock 🎥 👇https://t.co/uQC2cF9Ifm
— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) December 14, 2023
On India’s homecoming after 9 years within the four-day format, that might be a pivotal part of play because the hosts completed the day at 410/7 – their highest-ever complete at dwelling – scoring at greater than 4 runs per over. The tone for the day was set by the 2 debutants.
Strolling in to bat after Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma have been dismissed, Shubha and Jemimah by no means allowed the England bowlers to calm down, peppering the boundary recurrently. The early onus was taken by the 24-year-old left-hander from Karnataka, as she opened her account with a pleasant sq. drive for 4. Jemimah, who had her household in attendance, took her time to get going however as soon as she hit the pacy Lauren Filer for 2 off-driven boundaries, she too discovered her toes. Whereas Shubha most popular peppering the sq. area both aspect of the wicket, Jemimah scored closely by means of cowl and extra-cover.
. . . . !
Debut in worldwide cricket ✅
FIFTY on debut in worldwide cricket ✅
A stable begin for Shubha Satheesh 👍👍
… and the whole group applauds her efforts 👏 👏
Observe the Match ▶️ https://t.co/UB89NFaqaJ#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/aAwg93Uqv6
— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) December 14, 2023
The shot of the day arguably was Shubha’s straight drive off Kate Cross to convey up her fifty, at higher than a run a ball, whereas Jemimah’s boundary by means of additional cowl off Lauren Bell to convey up her personal milestone wasn’t too far off both. The run charge by no means sagged throughout their stand as boundaries stored flowing. Across the 30-over mark when India crossed 150, they’d hit extra boundaries than taken singles.
An opportunity to shine
Shubha has been across the home circuit for some time. Hailing from Mysore, she began taking part in cricket when she was 12. Having moved to Railways after turning out for Karnataka, taking part in time hasn’t been simple to come back by. However over the previous couple of weeks, it’s been excellent news galore.
Shubha Satheesh made it rely on her debut in worldwide cricket! 👍 👍
Sit again & relive her cracking half-century! 🎥 🔽 #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBankhttps://t.co/0z7DDlkUUp pic.twitter.com/5Zs8Gy2Oae
— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) December 14, 2023
First, her performances within the follow match, then a call-up to the Take a look at squad, then a Ladies’s Premier League contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore. “It’s simply taking place. I can say it’s simply my time. I see solely the great aspect of it proper now. It simply feels superb. one after the opposite excellent news coming. I’ve been on the home circuit for 6-7 years now and getting an Indian call-up was similar to residing a dream. I didn’t actually consider proving something. I simply needed to play good cricket. That’s all I do know and that’s all I consider in,” Shubha stated after the day’s play.
Whereas they could be at completely different factors of their careers, Shubha added that having performed age-group cricket with Jemimah, there was a familiarity that helped. What’s extra, whereas Jemimah grew up taking part in hockey in Mumbai, Shubha was the hockey captain of her college group as effectively. In these wristy drives and flicks, each of them showcased their stick expertise as effectively.
Making household proud
For Jemimah, it’s been a rollercoaster getting right here however taking part in a Take a look at match was at all times excessive on her guidelines. In an interview with JioCinema, she recalled how those that knew her thought Checks can be her greatest format. She additionally added how the cornerstones of her journey have been her dad and mom, remembering how her mom used to therapeutic massage her father’s shoulders after he’d spend a day bowling 300 throwdowns to her for follow. It was becoming then that father Ivan and mom Lavita have been round to greet their daughter after she was given the Take a look at cap by shut good friend Smriti.
Each Shubha and Jemimah would really feel a tinge of disappointment in getting dismissed when trying good for rather more, however their dismissals introduced Harmanpreet and Yastika collectively for one more stroke-filled partnership. It concerned a bit extra luck as each batters had shut calls, however it prevented England launching a fightback.
Making an influence on Take a look at debut & how! 👍 👍
That was a stable knock 6⃣8⃣-run knock from Jemimah Rodrigues 👌 👌
Observe the Match ▶️ https://t.co/UB89NF9Slb #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/c4QZLwVagi
— BCCI Ladies (@BCCIWomen) December 14, 2023
One wanting what would have been her first fifty within the format, Harmanpreet was run out in a fashion that introduced flashbacks of her nightmare from the T20 World Cup earlier this yr. Yastika would quickly comply with.
Then it was over to Deepti to indicate her long-format expertise, as she has now scored a half-century in England, Australia, and India within the three Checks she has performed. Sneh, who was unbeaten on 80 in a rearguard match-saving effort the final time these two sides met in Bristol, contributed a stable 30 that annoyed Heather Knight’s tiring aspect.
It was a day of well-constructed partnerships for India, however the one which stood out was between the 2 debutants.
Transient scores: India 410/7 in 94 overs (Shubha Satheesh 69, Jemima Rodrigues 68, Yastika Bhatia 66, Deepti Sharma 60*, Harmanpreet Kaur 49) vs England (Lauren Bell 2-64)