Media365
New Chandigarh: In a major blow to the India women’s cricket team, TOI has learnt that middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues has been ruled out of the last two WODIs against Australia due to a viral infection and weakness. Tejal Hasabnis, who was on standby, is set to be named Rodrigues’ replacement in the squad. The 28-year-old has played six WODIs so far, scoring 140 runs with a highest of 53* and an average of 46.66. India trail 1-0 in the series after losing the first WODI at the PCA Mullanpur Stadium here by eight wickets. The second match will be played at the same venue on Wednesday. Rodrigues scored 18 off 26 balls before she was caught off a top edge at short fine leg off Tahlia McGrath, as India posted 281 for eight in 50 overs in the first Women’s ODI. She later dropped a catch of Australian opener Phoebe Litchfield at mid-wicket off Sneh Rana, which proved costly, as Litchfield went on to score 88 off 80 balls. The 25-year-old Mumbaikar, however, is expected to recover in time for the Women’s ODI World Cup, which begins on Sept 30 with a match between India and Sri Lanka in Guwahati.Updated Team India Squad for the last two ODIs: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Deepti Sharma, Tejal Hasabnis, Renuka Singh Thakur, Arundhati Reddy, Richa Ghosh (WK), Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Radha Yadav, Sree Charani, Sneh Rana, Uma Chetry (WK).
