New Delhi, Dec 21 (NationPress) Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues asserts that the victory in the Women’s World Cup has increased the level of responsibility for the team as they prepare for the five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, commencing this Sunday. This series represents India’s first international engagement since their World Cup victory last month.

Reflecting on the effects of their championship win, Jemimah stated that the repercussions have transcended the cricket field. “It's been a while since, you know. Life has definitely changed after the World Cup. A lot many people have been recognising women's cricket, and I think that is one of the biggest achievements that this World Cup has had,” she expressed in a video released by the BCCI.

Jemimah mirrored the thoughts shared by vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, emphasizing the profound long-term effects of their triumph. “I was just hearing Smriti's interview after the World Cup, what she had given, and she said that we will not realise it now, but the kind of impact this World Cup is going to have is going to impact the generations. And it's going to be big, it's going to be massive, so can't wait to see that,” she added.

While the team takes pride in their achievements, Jemimah highlighted that their attention has already turned toward the challenges ahead. “We take pride in what we've done as a team, but it's just the beginning. Now is the time when I think the responsibility is more because the expectations are going to be more, and at the same time, the T20 World Cup, that's our focus now,” she noted, adding, “Yes, it's about winning World Cups, but it's also how we can be the best Indian team we've ever been.”

The 25-year-old emphasized the necessity for ongoing improvement, particularly as the shorter format demands greater intensity. “And when we think of it that way, I think that hard work never stops. You improving never stops. You keep improving every single day, little by little by little,” she stated.

Jemimah also warned that complacency could be their greatest adversary following success. “So I think it's a greater responsibility for us, and we know what we've done, but we also know that we can't stop. We need to keep going. T20, I feel, compared to the ODIs, the intensity is much higher,” she remarked.

She further elaborated on the tactical requirements of T20 cricket, especially for bowlers. “It's a shorter format and we know that it has a lot of explosiveness to it. And I think that even as a team, we are working towards that. T20, we know, even for bowlers, the batter is going to come hard at least but if we can nail those yorkers, nail those wide yorkers, the slow ones, I think it's also going to be a game of smartness and preparation where we can go out and execute what we do,” she explained.

Looking forward, Jemimah characterized the Sri Lanka series as a vital step in India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup, scheduled to be held in England from June 2026. “This Sri Lanka series that we're having is, yeah, the first I could say the first tournament for us as a team, also to prepare for that and to work towards that. It's going to be a good challenge with the dew coming in under lights. I think it's going to be good preparation for us for the 2026 World Cup,” she concluded.

India will face Sri Lanka in the opening match of the five T20Is at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.