I just tried to go back to what I used to do in U19 days: Jemimah Rodrigues on scoring maiden ODI ton

Jemimah Rodrigues expressed her joy after scoring her first international century, ending a seven-year wait. She credited her return to the mindset and techniques of her under-19 days for achieving this milestone.

Rodrigues' 102 runs led India to a resounding 116-run victory over Ireland in the second women's ODI. India also posted their highest-ever ODI total of 370.

"Feels great, it was a long-awaited one, and glad I could do it for the team today," she said at the post-match press conference.

"I've scored hundreds in U19, even a 200, so I just tried to go back to what I used to do then, and it came off well today."

In 2017, she scored an unbeaten 202 for Mumbai against Saurashtra in the U-19 Women's One-day competition, gaining significant attention.

Rodrigues usually bats at number five, but in the absence of captain Harmanpreet Kaur, she took on the number four spot and the additional responsibility.

"Hari (Harmanpreet) di was not there, so it added responsibility for me, but even when she is there, it's still my responsibility to ensure Team India reaches a good score. I was happy the team trusted me at number four and asked me to play a particular role, and I was able to deliver.

"I just tried to keep small targets and kept achieving it. And I like the way that I shifted gears today.

"Initially I showed a lot of patience, which was again a big positive for me because it was important for me to spend time there to get those runs. And you know, I was getting the runs. But I was not spending enough time to make it bigger. So I was happy I could do that today."

Reflecting on her dismissal in the first ODI, Rodrigues admitted to being frustrated but focused on maintaining a positive outlook. She believes that a positive mindset contributes to her success.

"Yes, I was very angry at myself (the way I got out in the first ODI), but being positive works for me."

Rodrigues celebrated her century by miming playing her bat like a guitar. This celebration was a long time coming, something she had envisioned for seven years.

"I've been thinking about this celebration for almost seven years. Finally, it happened today, and I know this is the first of many. I hope many more centuries will help India win matches - that's my goal," she said.

Rodrigues' innings was a significant contribution to India's record-breaking total. The team's batting performance was a collective effort, with several players contributing valuable runs.

Despite the achievement, Rodrigues stressed the team's continued focus on improvement. She highlighted the importance of critical self-assessment, even after a strong performance.

"It feels good, but there are still areas where we can improve. Even when we do well, we look to be critical about how we can get better. Hopefully, next game, 400," she added.