Sachin Tendulkar's batting tips came handy for Mumbai's Jemima Rodrigues

India's Jemimah Rodrigues during the fifth T20I against South Africa in Cape Town recently

Bandra girl Jemimah Rodrigues, 17, has credited India cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar for her successful debut with the Indian women's team recently. Though Jemimah did not get a chance to play in the three-match ODI series, she made full use of the opportunities she got in India's 3-1 T20I series win. Besides her batting, it was her fielding that people took notice of - especially her stunning air-borne catch on the boundary line to dismiss South Africa's Marizanne Kapp in the fifth T20I. Jemimah said a chance meeting with Tendulkar at his Bandra residence before the South Africa tour gave her a lot of confidence ahead of her maiden international outing.

Jemimah with Sachin Tendulkar and her father Ivan (left) prior to the South Africa tour

Master's advice
"People kept telling me that the wickets in South Africa are very pace-friendly and that the ball comes on to the bat very quickly. I was a bit apprehensive on hearing all this, but after meeting Tendulkar sir, all my fears vanished. He first asked me if I was nervous and said that it was good to be nervous because it meant that I cared about doing well. He advised me not to think that the ball was going to come faster, but instead imagine that it would come nicely onto the bat," said Jemimah, who is currently in Rajkot with the Mumbai U-23 team for a West Zone tournament. She scored a 78-ball 73 yesterday as Mumbai beat Maharashtra by 71 runs.

Jemimah said Tendulkar's tweet after her match-winning 44 against SA in the fifth T20I made her very emotional. "A fantastic knock of 44 in just 34 balls and a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket by the youngster, JemimahRodrigues. Hope this girl has a very long career. My best wishes to you," Tendulkar had written on social media after her series-winning knock. "Nothing can be bigger than the great Tendulkar tweeting about me. It's because of him that now so many people know me. Even long lost friends have started messaging me now. The feeling hasn't sunk in yet," said Jemimah.

Also Read: Sachin Tendulkar: It is hard to digest that Sridevi is no more

Playing under Mithali
Speaking about the experience of playing along with her idol Mithali Raj, Jemimah said: "In my first international match itself, I found myself at the other end batting with her. I idolise her and for a few moments, I simply kept staring at her from the non-striker's end," said Jemimah, who yesterday got picked in the India team for a three-match ODI series against Australia in Vadodara from March 12 to 18.

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