India’s stylish batter Jemimah Rodrigues has taken another significant step in her growing global career after being signed by Southern Brave for the 2026 season of the Women’s Hundred.
The 25-year-old’s move marks a new chapter in her association with one of England’s most competitive franchises and further underlines her rising stature in the world’s premier women’s T20 and short-format leagues.
Rodrigues arrives at Southern Brave with a strong track record in the Hundred. Between 2021 and 2023, she featured for Northern Superchargers across three editions of the tournament, playing 18 matches and scoring 453 runs at an impressive strike rate of 137.68. In a format that rewards quick scoring, boundary-hitting and situational awareness, Jemimah’s ability to keep the scoreboard moving while also playing impactful innings made her a consistent asset for Superchargers.
Her signing is also another sign of the increasing demand for Indian players in overseas franchise leagues. Rodrigues is one of only six Indian women to have featured in the Women’s Hundred so far, joining a select group that includes Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh. Earlier this month, Mandhana was picked up by Manchester Super Giants for the upcoming season, highlighting the continued appetite for Indian batting talent in England’s unique 100-ball format.
Jemimah’s previous stint with Northern Superchargers provided plenty of evidence of her adaptability to English conditions and the tactical demands of the Hundred. Unlike traditional T20 cricket, the Hundred compresses the game even further, with each side getting just 100 balls to score as many runs as possible. Batters are required to be inventive from the outset, and bowlers are forced to vary their lines, lengths and speeds constantly.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
In this environment, Rodrigues’ all-round batting game came to the fore. She used her strong off-side play to pierce the field early, rotated strike smartly in the middle overs, and had the range to clear the ropes when needed. Her strike rate of 137.68 across three seasons reflects not only her attacking intent but also her ability to play with clarity under pressure.
While she was not part of the Hundred in 2024 and 2025, her return in 2026 with Southern Brave gives her the opportunity to re-establish herself in one of the most watched women’s franchise leagues in the world.
Southern Brave have been one of the most consistent teams in the Women’s Hundred since the competition began. They won the title in 2023 and reached the final again in 2025, eventually finishing as runners-up after losing to Northern Superchargers in the summit clash. That pedigree makes them an attractive destination for any top-level player.
The Brave squad already features a blend of international quality and domestic English talent. South Africa captain Laura Wolvaardt is one of the most elegant and reliable top-order batters in the women’s game, while England seamer Lauren Bell provides pace and movement with the new ball. Jemimah’s arrival adds another layer of batting depth and flexibility to a side that prides itself on aggressive, high-tempo cricket.
With Wolvaardt likely to anchor the innings at the top, Rodrigues could slot into a middle-order role where her ability to accelerate and play spin effectively becomes crucial. Alternatively, she also has the experience to be used higher up the order, especially if Southern Brave want to take the attack to the opposition early.
Part of a Growing Indian Footprint
Rodrigues’ signing also reflects a broader trend in women’s cricket. Indian players are no longer just participants in overseas leagues; they are now central figures around whom teams build their strategies. Harmanpreet Kaur’s leadership and power-hitting, Smriti Mandhana’s consistency at the top, Deepti Sharma’s all-round skills, Shafali Verma’s explosiveness and Richa Ghosh’s finishing ability have already made them sought-after names in global franchise cricket.
Jemimah’s inclusion in this group is well deserved. Over the past few years, she has established herself as one of India’s most dependable batters across formats. Her technical foundation, combined with a fearless approach to scoring, allows her to adapt to different roles and conditions, making her an ideal fit for competitions like the Hundred.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
For Jemimah, the move to Southern Brave is about more than just changing teams. It is an opportunity to test herself in a high-performance environment against some of the best players in the world. The Women’s Hundred attracts elite talent from England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and beyond, making it a perfect stage for players to sharpen their skills and enhance their global reputation.
Performing well for a title-contending side like Southern Brave also brings visibility and pressure in equal measure. Strong performances in England could further strengthen Rodrigues’ case as one of India’s premier white-ball batters heading into the next cycle of international tournaments and franchise leagues.
As the 2026 Women’s Hundred approaches, Southern Brave’s recruitment of Jemimah Rodrigues adds intrigue and quality to an already formidable lineup. For Indian fans, it is another chance to watch one of their most gifted batters take centre stage in a major overseas competition.
For Rodrigues herself, the move represents both continuity and progression a return to a league where she has already proven her worth, and a fresh challenge with a franchise that knows how to win. If she can reproduce, or even improve on, the form she showed with Northern Superchargers, Southern Brave may well have found a key piece in their quest to reclaim the Hundred title in 2026.
