“Lose To Anyone, But Not Pakistan”: Jemimah Rodrigues Opens Up Ahead Of High-Voltage T20 World Cup Clash
As India prepares to face Pakistan in its opening match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, Indian batter Jemimah Rodrigues has spoken about the immense pressure and emotions that surround one of cricket’s biggest rivalries.
Recalling her first India-Pakistan encounter, Rodrigues revealed that expectations from fans are felt everywhere — even in everyday conversations.
“I remember when I played my first India-Pakistan game. Harman di told us not to deny the pressure because we all know what this rivalry means. Even my building watchman says, ‘Lose to anyone, but not Pakistan.’ That’s the kind of passion people have for this match,” she said.
Despite the excitement and expectations surrounding the clash, Rodrigues emphasized that the team’s ultimate focus remains much bigger than a single game — winning India’s first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup title.
The Indian batter shared that visualization has become an important part of the team’s preparation, with players regularly imagining themselves lifting the trophy.
“Every morning, we visualize winning the World Cup. We believe that if you see something long enough, you naturally start moving towards it. That’s been a big theme for our team,” she said.
Rodrigues also highlighted the team’s intense preparation methods, explaining that players deliberately train under difficult and pressure-filled situations to prepare themselves for crucial moments during matches.
According to her, the squad has learned valuable lessons from recent setbacks, including the series against South Africa, and has used those experiences to improve ahead of the global tournament.
Meanwhile, India head coach Amol Muzumdar urged the team to remain calm and avoid focusing too much on individual opponents, including Pakistan captain Fatima Sana.
Muzumdar noted that T20 cricket is highly unpredictable and that any player can influence the outcome of a match on a given day. He stressed the importance of staying composed and executing plans under pressure.
With arch-rivals India and Pakistan set to meet in Birmingham, fans are eagerly awaiting another chapter in one of the most intense rivalries in world cricket.
News Source : Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
