After her Brisbane Heat team decided to release her from all forthcoming games, India batter Jemimah Rodrigues would not be going back to Australia for the rest of the Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) 2025 season. Following the postponement of her Indian teammate and close friend Smriti Mandhana’s wedding because of unexpected health issues in her family, Jemimah Rodrigues made her decision. Rodrigues has made the decision to remain in India in order to help her teammate through this trying time.
Following the Heat’s November 15 game against the Hobart Hurricanes, the right-handed batter took a plane back to India to be at Mandhana’s wedding festivities. The Indian great had participated in three games this season and was fresh off of his country’s historic first-ever ODI World Cup victory. Soon after the celebrations, she was supposed to return to the Heat setup.
Plans were altered, nevertheless, when Mandhana’s father, Srinivas Mandhana, experienced a severe heart condition shortly before the wedding. Before being diagnosed with angina, he was admitted to the hospital in Sangli with symptoms that were first thought to be a heart attack.
The following day, Mandhana’s fiancé, musician Palaash Muchhal, was also sent to the hospital because of health issues with acidity and the flu. Instead of going back to Australia, Jemimah Rodrigues, who attended the pre-wedding festivities in Sangli, chose to stay in India as a support.
Jemimah Rodrigues has undoubtedly been going through a difficult period.
The Brisbane Heat’s CEO, Terry Svenson, formally acknowledged that Jemimah Rodrigues had been cut from the team by mutual consent. According to CEO Terry Svenson, the franchise was fully aware of Rodrigues’ predicament.
Jemimah Rodrigues has clearly been going through a difficult time, therefore even though it is regrettable that she will not be participating in the WBBL any more, we were more than happy to grant her request to stay in India. It goes without saying that the Heat club wishes her and Smriti Mandhana’s family the very best in the future. Jemi expressed her disappointment at not being able to return and thanked the Heat supporters and the club for their understanding of the situation. According to ESPNcricinfo, Heat CEO Terry Svenson stated, “She has been in contact with the players and wished them luck for the remainder of their games.”
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In her second stint with the Heat, Rodrigues, the team’s top international draft pick this season, expressed regret at not being able to return to the team. She allegedly communicated with her teammates, wished them luck in the remaining games, and thanked the squad and supporters for their support.
The 25-year-old scored 37 runs at an average of 12.33 and a strike rate of 102.77 during her brief participation this season. Following a rest-management break, Lily Bassingthwaighte is replaced by Grace Harris, who will now be relied upon by the Heat, who are currently winless after six games.
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