Jemimah Rodrigues acknowledged that India failed to capitalize at a crucial stage, resulting in a narrow defeat to South Africa women's cricket team in the opening match of their five-match T20I series. India looked set for a competitive total when Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur stitched together a promising 71-run partnership for the third wicket. However, the momentum slipped away at a key moment, and India finished with 157—around 15 to 20 runs short of what they had targeted. Missed Chance to Accelerate Reflecting on the innings, Rodrigues pointed to her dismissal in the 15th over as a turning point. “We had built momentum and done the hard work, but when the time came to capitalize, we couldn’t,” she said. “I fell at the wrong time. For set batters, it’s easier to take the innings deep, and that’s something I’ll take responsibility for in the next game.” India had started well, thanks to a brisk 34 off 20 balls from Shafali Verma. But quick wickets, including that of Smriti Mandhana, stalled progress before Rodrigues and Harmanpreet rebuilt the innings. Despite Harmanpreet remaining unbeaten on 47 off 33 balls, India’s lower order failed to provide the late surge needed to push the total beyond par. Bowlers Keep India in the Contest India’s bowlers mounted a strong fightback in the second innings, taking the game deep. Rodrigues praised the efforts of Shreyanka Patil and Shree Charani, who bowled with discipline under pressure. “A little better execution and we could have won,” Rodrigues noted. “But it’s encouraging that we pushed the game to the final over.” South Africa eventually chased down the target with five balls to spare, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Focus Shifts to Next Match and World Cup Preparation Looking ahead, Rodrigues expressed confidence in India’s ability to adapt to conditions and bounce back in the next match. She also highlighted the importance of the series as preparation for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup scheduled later this year in England and Wales. “With the World Cup coming up, this tour is crucial,” she said. “We have depth in our batting and plenty of allrounders, but some of them need more match experience. These games will help us prepare better as a unit.” India will now aim to level the series in the second T20I, with improvements in both finishing with the bat and execution with the ball high on their agenda.