Jemimah Rodrigues to miss remainder of WBBL 2025 season

Jemimah Rodrigues will not return for the remainder of WBBL 2025 after her franchise Brisbane Heat granted her request to remain in India. Rodrigues had flown home following the Heat's game against the Hobart Hurricanes as part of a pre-arranged understanding that was tied to personal commitments.

The star Indian batter will now stay back to support her teammate and friend Smriti Mandhana during a difficult time for the latter's family.

In her brief WBBL stint this season, the 25-year-old World Cup winner played three matches, scoring 37 runs at an average of 12.33 and a strike rate of 102.77. She expressed her gratitude to the Heat and its fans for their understanding, while the club wished her all the best during this period.

"It has obviously been a challenging time for Jemi, so while it is unfortunate that she will take no further part in the WBBL, we were more than willing to agree to her request to remain in India," Brisbane Heat CEO Terry Svenson said. "The Heat club obviously wish her and Smriti Mandhana's family all the best for the future.

"Jemi told us she was disappointed not to be coming back and has passed on her appreciation to the club and the Heat fans for being so understanding of the circumstances. She has been in touch with the players and wished them all the best for the rest of their games," Svenson added.

Brisbane Heat, who signed Rodrigues as their number one pick at the international player draft earlier this year, have endured a forgettable campaign, losing each of their six games so far. They have four league games remaining and next take on the Sydney Sixers on November 28.