The Indian cricket team began its Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with a 64-run victory over Pakistan at Edgbaston in Birmingham. While Jemimah Rodrigues did not have much of an impact with the bat, she remains one of the key figures in India's squad at the ongoing tournament.

Last year, Rodrigues produced one of the most memorable innings in Indian cricket history, striking an unbeaten 127 against Australia in the Women's ODI World Cup semi-finals at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Her knock helped India complete the highest successful run chase in women's ODI history and book a place in the final, where they went on to defeat South Africa and lift their maiden Women's ODI World Cup title.

Speaking to Olympics.com after Sunday's victory over Pakistan, Rodrigues reflected on the team's belief, India's ambitions at the ongoing T20 World Cup, and cricket's return to the Olympic Games at LA28.

Q: Firstly, congratulations. Give us your reaction to that result.

Jemimah Rodrigues: I think it was a great win. Hats off to the entire team. When we talk about sticking together as a team, there's obviously pressure when we play an India-Pakistan match, but I think the team kept their nerves. Thank you to everyone who came to support. They showed on the screen that this is the highest-ever crowd attendance. Love to all our fans, and keep supporting us.

Q: Is this victory a statement of intent for what the team can do at this T20 World Cup?

Jemimah Rodrigues: Yeah, I think winning that ODI World Cup in 2025 gave us one thing: that belief. We had that belief, but once you've lived the reality, it gives you a stronger belief that if we can do it once, we can do it again. We're really looking forward to this T20 World Cup. We started well, but we're going to take it one game at a time, keep backing each other, keep sticking together, and keep doing the simple things correctly, and things have a way of following and going in our favour.

Q: Are you hoping to line up for the Indian cricket team at the LA 2028 Games?

Jemimah Rodrigues: There's nothing like winning an Olympic gold medal for your country. That's a dream. Our team's first focus is on this World Cup and then LA 2028.

Q: The T20 World Cup is definitely the primary focus at the moment, but is that gold medal in the back of your mind at any point?

Jemimah Rodrigues: We know how big the Olympics are. We know how big a team sport is, where together as a hockey team or a football team, or other teams together, come together and win medals, which can tally together for India in total. I think it's a great opportunity for us.

Q: What do you think the Olympics can do for the women's game?

Jemimah Rodrigues: As a women's cricket team, we've never played in LA. I think it's great for the sport. It's great to endorse cricket everywhere we go because you never know, there might be superstars sitting right there in LA, kids coming to watch. There might be a future for us.

Q: The atmosphere was great today. Great for the women's game in general. Your thoughts?

Jemimah Rodrigues: Nothing like having people follow women's cricket, support women's sport in general. Women's sport in general has gone to a new height. We can't wait to see where it's going to go in the future.

Q: A few words about your family. You had a chance to go and see them and speak to them after the match as well.

Jemimah Rodrigues: I'm so blessed and so grateful that I have my parents always supporting me. Whether you score, whether you don't score, I know they always love me, and they're here, and I'm very grateful to have them here.