'Lose to anyone, but not Pakistan': Jemimah reflects on biggest rivalry ahead of T20 WC opener
New Delhi, June 13
India batter Jemimah Rodrigues says the pressure surrounding an India-Pakistan clash is unlike any other in cricket, revealing that even her building watchman reminds her of the importance of defeating the arch-rivals as the two sides prepare to meet in their opening match of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 in Birmingham on Sunday.
Speaking on JioStar's Rodrigues reflected on her first experience of the fierce rivalry and the expectations that come with it.
"I remember when I played my first India-Pakistan game. In the dressing room, Harman di actually spoke to us, saying, 'Let's not deny it. There is pressure from the outside because we know the history of India versus Pakistan. We know what the fans expect,'" Rodrigues said.
"Even my building watchman says, 'Lose to anyone, but not against Pakistan.' That is the kind of pressure because people love cricket. They love this rivalry."
Despite the expectations, Rodrigues said the Indian team remains focused on a bigger goal - lifting their maiden Women's T20 World Cup trophy.
"Lifting that trophy! This morning, we visualised it. We do that as a team. It's part of our usual process, where we sit together and visualise because we believe that if you see something long enough, you start moving in that direction," she said.
"That is the theme of our team. We did it during the 2025 World Cup. Amol sir has made it a point for us to do it here as well, and we'll continue doing that."
Rodrigues also highlighted the team's extensive preparations leading into the tournament, stressing the importance of training under pressure.
"We prepare differently for every game. We've been putting ourselves in uncomfortable situations, whether in training or on the field. We have a lot of sessions where we play out different scenarios," she said.
"Everyone says you have to thrive under pressure, but how do you do that? You do it by repeatedly putting yourself under pressure in practice and making those situations as challenging as possible, so that when you go into a match, you feel prepared.
"The preparation has been excellent. We've had great camps and this team is looking really confident. We didn't have a great series against South Africa, but sometimes a defeat teaches you a lot more than winning. We've made notes of those lessons, worked on them, and now we can't wait to get out there and play some good cricket."
India head coach Amol Muzumdar, meanwhile, cautioned against focusing too heavily on individual opponents, including Pakistan captain Fatima Sana.
"Every bowler, on a given day, can be a threat. It's T20 cricket. It's the shortest format of the game and a format where things can change very quickly," Muzumdar said.
"All you need to do is stay calm, keep your cool, and go out there and deliver what you're supposed to."
— IANS
Reader Comments
Respect to Harman Kaur for that dressing room speech. She knows exactly what the atmosphere is like outside. But honestly, I wish we could treat Pakistan like any other team. The hyper-nationalism around this rivalry sometimes puts unnecessary pressure on the players. Let's just enjoy the game and hope for a good performance.
As someone who follows women's cricket from the UK, it's amazing to see how much this rivalry means in India. The women's game has grown so much, and these high-pressure matches are what make it exciting. India's preparation sounds very professional - visualisation, scenario training... coach Amol Muzumdar is doing great work. Good luck to both teams!
"Lose to anyone, but not Pakistan" - this is the mentality that keeps the rivalry alive but also creates so much pressure. Jemimah is right, the expectation from fans is enormous. But I think we need to ease up a bit. Yes, beating Pakistan is important, but winning the World Cup is even bigger. That's where the real focus should be. Good to see the team has its priorities straight.
The buildup is fantastic! India-Pakistan matches are always high voltage. I remember the 2022 Asia Cup final when India won - the whole country was celebrating. But I hope the team doesn't get carried away by emotions. Muzumdar's caution about focusing on the game rather than the opponent is spot on. Let's go girls! 🇮🇳🏏
R Rekha R