Pune is now the base for Jemimah Rodrigues as she makes her return to competitive cricket, having cleared a three-month rehabilitation programme for a high-grade right hamstring tear. The 26-year-old has linked up with the Mumbai squad to feature in the remaining fixtures of the Senior Women's T20 Elite tournament.
The injury dates to August 3, when Rodrigues was representing Southern Brave in a Hundred fixture against Welsh Fire in England. Scans carried out at the BCCI Centre of Excellence subsequently confirmed the high-grade nature of the right hamstring tear, setting in motion a lengthy recovery process.
Riding on the back of a successful rehabilitation, Rodrigues took to Instagram on October 30 to share the news with her followers.
"Life Update: HAMSTRING HAS BEEN DECLARED FIT!!!!!!!! After 3 months of rehab. Now I can’t wait to get going," she wrote.
Which tournaments did Rodrigues miss during her recovery?
The seriousness of the tear meant Rodrigues was absent from several high-profile assignments across the August-to-October window. India's home white-ball series against Zimbabwe concluded without her, as did the Women's T20 Asia Cup held in the UAE. The Asian Games in Japan also passed during her absence, underlining the breadth of cricket she was forced to sit out.
A high-grade hamstring tear ranks among the more demanding soft-tissue injuries in terms of recovery time, and the BCCI medical team oversaw her rehabilitation at the Centre of Excellence before granting clearance. Her participation in the Senior Women's T20 Elite in Pune now serves as the first step back into match conditions.
What does Rodrigues' return mean for India's South Africa tour?
With fitness confirmed, Rodrigues is firmly in the frame for India's multi-format tour of South Africa in December 2026, a series that includes one Test, three ODIs and three T20Is. Her outing in Pune is expected to provide the match sharpness selectors will want to see before that assignment.
Ironically, October 30 carries particular significance in Rodrigues' career beyond the fitness announcement. Exactly one year prior, on October 30, 2025, she had crafted an unbeaten 127 against Australia at DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai during an ODI World Cup match, a knock that underlined her value to the Indian batting order. Returning to fitness on the same calendar date adds a notable footnote to what has been a difficult few months for the batter.
