Jemimah Rodrigues admitted that India fell short with the bat following their defeat to South Africa women's national cricket team in the opening T20I, acknowledging that an underwhelming total proved decisive in the outcome.

Reflecting on the loss, Rodrigues said the team recognised they were below par in terms of scoring, especially on a surface that demanded a more competitive total. India struggled to build momentum through the innings, losing wickets at regular intervals and failing to capitalise during key phases of the match.

The middle-order batter pointed out that partnerships were lacking, which made it difficult to set a challenging target. Despite a few individual contributions, the batting unit as a whole could not stitch together a sustained effort, allowing South Africa to maintain control throughout the innings.

Also Read: Coventry City Clinch Promotion, Ending 25-Year Absence From Premier League

South Africa, in response, approached the chase with composure and clarity, pacing their innings effectively to overhaul the target without significant pressure. Their batters rotated strike efficiently and punished loose deliveries, ensuring the required rate remained manageable.

Rodrigues emphasised the need for improvement heading into the remainder of the series, noting that the team must reassess its batting approach and execution. She added that adapting quickly to match conditions and making smarter decisions in pressure situations would be key to bouncing back.

The defeat serves as an early setback for India in the series, but Rodrigues expressed confidence that the team can regroup and deliver a stronger performance in the upcoming matches if they address their shortcomings with the bat.

Also Read: IPL 2026: Shubman Gill Says He Was Disappointed Despite GT Beating KKR Easily