Jemimah Rodrigues declares hamstring fit ahead of India's South Africa tour

Jemimah Rodrigues has declared her right hamstring fit after three months on the sidelines, announcing her recovery on social media on Friday, October 30, and boosting India's preparations for the multi-format tour of South Africa in December.

The 26-year-old right-handed batter, expected to feature in India's middle order, completed an extended rehabilitation programme and comes back with just over a month remaining before the tour begins.

Rodrigues sustained the injury on Aug 3 while playing for Southern Brave against Welsh Fire in The Hundred in England. Subsequent scans at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru confirmed a high-grade tear in her right hamstring. That diagnosis ruled her out of the remainder of the competition and several important assignments for India.

The injury forced Rodrigues to miss the Women's T20 Asia Cup in the UAE and the Asian Games in Japan. She also missed India's recently concluded ODI and T20I series against Zimbabwe at home. Those absences deprived her of valuable match practice during an important phase of the international calendar.

She shared the recovery update on social media after the rehabilitation programme. “Life Update: HAMSTRING HAS BEEN DECLARED FIT!!!!!!!! After 3 months of rehab. Now I can't wait to get going,” Jemimah wrote on Instagram. A post shared by Jemimah Jessica Rodrigues (@jemimahrodrigues)

With rehabilitation complete, Rodrigues could return to competitive cricket through Mumbai in the ongoing Senior Women's T20 Trophy before the selectors finalise India's squad for the South Africa tour. Her recovery will come as welcome news for the team management given the limited time before the trip.

Jemimah's availability will strengthen India's batting options as they prepare for a challenging away assignment against the reigning ODI World Cup finalists. The tour will begin with a four-day Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha from December 9 to 12. India will then play three ODIs on December 16, 19 and 22, followed by three T20Is on December 26, 29 and 30.