India, Jan. 6 -- A lot has changed for Jemimah Rodrigues in the months following the Women's ODI World Cup semifinal. The young batting star has moved from being a reliable middle-order presence to a figure of authority, earning widespread praise for her temperament, shot-making, and ability to rise to the occasion. That upward curve has now been rewarded in a big way, with the Delhi Capitals handing her the captaincy for the upcoming Women's Premier League season.

Rodrigues announced herself on the big stage when it mattered most, delivering a defining performance against a team renowned for its dominance in ICC tournaments. With India under intense pressure and the chase slipping away, she held her nerve and played an innings for the a...