A test for captain and batter Jemimah Rodrigues. In a few hours, Delhi Capitals play their last league game against UP Warriorz, a match that will define their campaign. If they hold their nerve and win, they qualify for the Eliminator against Gujarat Giants. Jemimah Rodrigues has had an average season so far, both as a captain and batter. This is the game that will test her maturity and ability to handle pressure. Delhi Capitals, in the last three WPL seasons, have gone straight into the final, but one more lapse this season could mean game over.
Jemimah Rodrigues – the batter
In seven innings, Jemimah has scored 132 runs at an average of 22.00 and a strike-rate of 122.22. In that tally is a match-winning 51*. But it is not just about the lack of runs. The modes of dismissal have been concerning. Jemimah has repeatedly got out to poor shots, at times when she should have stuck to her natural style of batting and have won games for DC.
In DC’s first game of WPL 2026, against Mumbai Indians, DC were reeling at 33/3 when Jemimah went for a flashy cut and edged the ball to the keeper. She had got out to a similar shot against Pakistan in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup; back then the bowler had overstepped and that saved her. This time, neither did G Kamalini, the keeper, made any mistake with the one-handed catch, nor did Shabnim Ismail overstep. Jemimah had to walk back with DC down to 33/4 in 5.2 overs, chasing MI’s 195.
Against GG, with just seven needed off six balls, instead of sticking to her strengths, Jemimah tried to hit a full ball outside off towards fine leg with a scoop-like shot and ended up gloving it to the keeper. DC’s momentum was broken and they ended up on the losing side after doing all the hard work.
Against UPW, DC were going great guns and all set to win the game. A set Jemimah, yet again trying to play the inside-out loft, was caught at long-off. DC needed seven to win off seven balls when Jemi got out. It is never easy for an incoming batter, especially in the final over, to come out and finish the job. The set batter has to do that. Thankfully, Marizanne Kapp finished the game for DC.
Against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, she chopped on. In the reverse leg against RCB, again unnecessarily trying to go over extra-cover, she picked out Smriti in the covers and once more did not finish the game. Against GG in the last match, that scoop brought her downfall again when she was batting on 16 with Laura Wolvaardt at the other end and DC at 82/2 in 10.5 overs. What was the need for that shot, only Jemimah can probably explain.
Jemimah has finished just one game in seven innings and, as a premier batter for DC, she simply cannot afford that. Most of the dismissals above were avoidable and DC could easily have won two more games and be sitting pretty in the top half of the points table.
Jemimah the captain
DC co-owner Parth Jindal had made it clear that once Meg Lanning was not retained, DC were looking for an Indian skipper, and everyone knew by then that the baton would pass to Jemimah, who was touted as a leadership candidate by Indian great Mithali Raj herself. Jemimah’s captaincy began with nervous energy, lots of chatter and visible holes in strategy. But game by game, she improved, reading situations better, trusting her instincts, and developing steadily as a captain.
Is she ready for national team captaincy? No, not yet. But is there a chance for her to grow into a good leader? The signs have been positive. Not all her moves have worked, but Jemimah has started understanding that a captain needs calmness within; fidgetiness can push her into wrong decisions. That realisation has paid off. She has taken some excellent calls – like bringing back Marizanne Kapp against RCB and removing Georgia Voll, and backing Sree Charani in the middle overs.
She has a long way to go, but the journey has clearly begun. In fact, Wolvaardt, the South Africa captain, said in a post-match interview that with every game Jemimah is getting to know her players better and is therefore making better on-field decisions.
Today, in DC’s most important game of the tournament so far, both Jemimah the batter and Jemimah the captain need to be at their absolute best. Will she be able to do it? Can Jemimah produce a repeat of that World Cup semi-final knock where she played a blinder under pressure? It is said that coal under pressure turns into a diamond. Can Jemi be that diamond for Delhi Capitals tonight?
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