"I feel they should persist with Jemi at No. 5" - Saba Karim doesn't want Jemimah Rodrigues to be moved to No. 3
Saba Karim wants India to persist with Jemimah Rodrigues at No. 5 in T20Is heading into the Women's T20 World Cup later this year. Reema Malhotra earlier opined that the diminutive right-handed batter should be promoted to No. 3.
Jemimah didn't get to bat in the second T20I between India and South Africa in Chennai on Sunday, July 7, as the match was abandoned due to rain after the visitors posted 177/6 while batting first. The 23-year-old smashed an unbeaten 53 off 30 deliveries in the Women in Blue's 12-run loss in the first T20I at the same venue two days ago.
During a discussion on Sports 18, Saba Karim was asked about Jemimah Rodrigues' impressive performances at No. 5, which is not her usual batting position.
"Her stats are extremely impressive at No. 5. I feel Amol (Muzumdar) and Harman (Harmanpreet Kaur) would have seen the stats and Jemi's approach while keeping her at No. 5. I feel they should persist with Jemi at No. 5," he responded.
The former India wicketkeeper-batter pointed out that the Mumbaikar has the ideal game for the middle overs.
"Although we are saying that she should play at No. 3, but the way she played in the last match, the way she uses the angles, the way she moves in the crease and plays her shots, sometimes inside out and going inside the line on other occasions, it is exceptional batting, and you need such a batter in the middle overs," he explained.
Jemimah has smashed 230 runs at an average of 57.50 and a strike rate of 141.97 in seven T20I innings at No. 5. However, she has played at No. 3 for the majority of her career, amassing 1492 runs at an average of 30.44 and a strike rate of 110.19 in 59 innings.
"It's a huge positive sign for India" - Saba Karim on Jemimah Rodrigues' approach at No. 5
![Jemimah Rodrigues is known for her timing and placement. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/07/aa6d2-17204154775937-1920.jpg?w=500)
While acknowledging that Jemimah Rodrigues does not have the power game, Saba Karim added that she compensates for it with her smart approach.
"If you don't have power, because Jemi does not have that much power, can you play inside-out shots and play according to the field? All those qualities are being seen in Jemimah Rodrigues' batting. So it's a huge positive sign for India," he elaborated in the same interaction.
The cricketer-turned-commentator noted that Jemimah's presence at No. 5 also helps Harmanpreet Kaur's cause.
"You need a batter who can score at a high strike rate in the middle order. Harman also benefits because of this because then Harman feels there is a batter at the other end who can play shots like that or play knocks like that. So she gets more space to settle a little, and then finish the match splendidly in the end or set a target," he explained.
However, Saba Karim acknowledged that the No. 3 position remains open if Jemimah bats at No. 5. He pointed out that while Yastika Bhatia isn't available due to injury, Dayalan Hemalatha was tried in the first T20I.
The former India selector questioned whether Sajeevan Sajana, who replaced Hemalatha in the XI for Sunday's game, is ideally suited for that spot.