Jemimah Rodrigues hopes the upcoming Women’s Premier League (WPL) will help heal the scars of the India Women’s team players who suffered a heartbreaking semi-final loss to Australia in the recent Women’s T20 World Cup, held in South Africa.

Middle-order batter Jemimah, who will play for Delhi Capitals in the inaugural WPL, said: “It has taken a while, honestly. We were in South Africa for two days after the semis (loss). Everyone was not in a great headspace. But coming here (for WPL), being with the family for two days (has helped ease the pain).

“Obviously it (the loss) keeps haunting us, but at the same time, the WPL is a blessing... it will help us keep our mind off the negative thoughts and those things that keep haunting us. (We will) keep working harder — that is how we can shift our focus.”

The five-team WPL begins on March 4 at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai, with the final to be played on March 26.

Jemimah will team up with Australia’s multiple-time World Cup-winning captain Meg Lanning, who has been appointed the Delhi Capitals captain.

“I do not know about the rest but I am going to keep picking her brains and keep annoying her. Not everyone gets the opportunity (to learn from such stalwarts) and I am getting it and I am looking forward to it,” she said.

Written with inputs from PTI