'It's a bit harsh,' Jemimah Rodrigues on run-out decision

The biggest talking point of the Women's T20 World Cup 2024 so far as been if Amelia Kerr should have been given out. The New Zealand batter hit the ball to long-off and took an easy single off Deepti Sharma, but when the opportunity arose, her skipper Sophie Devine called her for another run, but Kerr was short of her crease at the striker's end when the wicketkeeper took the bails off.

However, Kerr was eventually adjudged not out as the umpire had called over, deeming the ball dead after the first run, much to India's dismay. India batter Jemimah Rodrigues felt a little undone by that decision but said that they respected the umpire's decision.

"I was not there when the umpire gave the cap to Deepti, but I mean, New Zealand were pretty sure that it was a double run and Amelia Kerr went out which showed that the over was not called out yet and we all thought that, okay, I mean, we got that run-out," Rodrigues said at the post-match press conference.

"What if that run out wouldn't happen? Would they give us a two for that? So, I think, honestly, that's not in our control. At the end, we respect the decision of the umpire and we were okay with that. But yeah, it's a bit harsh when Amelia Kerr herself walked out, because she knew she was out."

That did not cost India much as Kerr was dismissed off the next delivery.  "I think we did what we can. We spoke to the umpire, like I said, then we had to accept the decision of the umpire and move on. So, I think that's what we did really well, that we just moved on from that and I think we got her out pretty soon, so that worked for us," she added.

Rodrigues has predominantly batted at five for India, but for the team's sake, she was pushed up to four - call that was made ahead of the World Cup. Rodrigues says she is willing to bat anywhere the team wants her to. 

"I think it's not much change for me in my mindset because I know with my game I'm ready to bat anywhere the team wants me to bat and I'm ready to do the job. Today, because I was batting well, I had some form going on, even in the warm-up games," Rodrigues said. 

"It was my responsibility that I should have made sure we built a partnership after losing wickets. So, I think, again, today would be the game we would like to forget because this is a World Cup. We need to keep moving on and keep picking ourselves up."

India will hope to turn things around in their next game against a confident Pakistan side on October 6 (Sunday).

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