In a significant setback for the Indian women’s cricket team, dynamic middle-order batter Jemimah Rodrigues has been officially withdrawn from both the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 and the highly anticipated Asian Games 2026. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on August 11 that Rodrigues sustained a high-grade right hamstring tear, necessitating her absence from the crucial continental tournaments.
Jemimah Rodrigues Ruled Out of Asian Games and Asia Cup 2026
The injury occurred earlier this month while Rodrigues, aged 25, was representing Southern Brave in The Hundred. Her withdrawal comes as a major blow to India’s campaign, particularly given her consistent form, which saw her score 143 runs in six innings for the Brave at an impressive average of 35.75 and a strike rate of 131.19.
Pratika Rawal Steps Up
Filling the void left by Rodrigues, young all-rounder Pratika Rawal has been named as the injury replacement for the Asia Cup squad. Rawal, who turns 26 on September 1, 2026, has had a meteoric rise in international cricket since her ODI debut in December 2024. An integral part of the Indian team that clinched the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, Rawal is a top-order batter known for her aggressive style and occasional medium-pace bowling. She holds the record for the most runs in the first six ODI innings (444) and is the joint-fastest woman to reach 1,000 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just 23 innings.
Asia Cup 2026 Details
The ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 is scheduled to commence on August 28 and will run until September 13, with all matches taking place in Dubai. India will begin their quest for continental supremacy on August 30, taking on Thailand in their opening fixture.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket
Beyond the Asia Cup, Rodrigues’ injury also rules her out of the Asian Games 2026, where the women’s T20 cricket tournament is scheduled from September 17 to September 22. The cricket events will be held at the Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, Japan. India are the defending champions, having won gold in both men’s and women’s cricket at the 2023 Asian Games, and will be looking to retain their title.
Rodrigues’ absence is undoubtedly a blow for India, but the inclusion of an in-form and World Cup-winning player like Pratika Rawal provides a strong option for the team as they aim for glory in both the Asia Cup and Asian Games. The focus will now be on Rawal and the rest of the squad to step up and deliver stellar performances in these crucial tournaments.