Pratika Rawal has been one of the shining stars for India in the three-match ODI series against Ireland. Replacing Shafali Verma in the Team India squad, Rawal has scored runs consistently and put up significant partnerships with Smriti Mandhana, Even in the third ODI against Ireland, she scored a century and helped India post the highest team total in ODIs and the biggest win in terms of margin of victory. Pratika Rawal made her debut for India in the ODI series against West Indies. She was impressive there and cemented her place in the team. Her call up came amidst a change going through the Team India squad after the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. For the T20I series, Nandini Kashyap and Raghvi Bist were handed a maiden call-up for the women's national side. For three ODIs, Pratika Rawal was handed a maiden call-up. Pratika Rawal Receives Her Debut ODI Cap From Smriti Mandhana Ahead of IND-W vs WI-W 1st ODI 2024 (Watch Video).
Pratika Rawal had a dream ODI debut series against the West Indies women's national cricket team at home. In the first ODI, Pratika played a vital knock of 40 off 69 balls, including 4 fours. She stitched a solid opening stand with veteran Smriti Mandhana of 110 runs. Their crucial opening partnership helped the Indian women to score 314/9 in 50 overs. In the second ODI, Pratika Rawal smashed her maiden ODI fifty. She was dismissed for 76 off 86 deliveries, including 11 boundaries. The youngster stitched a crucial 110-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana. With 310 runs in three matches, Pratika Rawal is the highest scorer for Team India in the Ireland ODI series. Latest ICC Rankings 2024: Smriti Mandhana Moves Closer to Top Spot in ODI, T20I Batting Rankings.
Quick Facts About Pratika Rawal
- The 24-year-old cricketer was born on September 1, 2000. The opening batter plays for Delhi in the domestic circuit.
- Pratika Rawal's father Pradeep Rawal a BCCI-certified Level-II umpire of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA).
- At a young age, Pratika Rawal was a psychology student who loved studying. She also secured 92.5 percent in her 12th CBSE examinations.
- Her cricketing journey started at 10, but during her college days, she realised her potential. After that, she decided to follow her passion and work hard to become a professional cricketer.
- Her father, Pradeep Rawal, took her to the Rohtak Road Gymkhana Cricket Academy, where she trained under coach Sharvan Kumar, who has coached several star cricketers like Ishant Sharma and Nitsh Rana.
- In 2021, Rawal played an outstanding knock for Delhi, smashing 161 runs off 151 deliveries against Assam. In her first domestic season, the right-handed batter amassed 247 runs at an impressive average of 49.50. In the 2022-23 domestic season, she smashed 552 runs in 14 outings, including five half-centuries.
- The 24-year-old star cricketer made her ODI debut against the West Indies women's national cricket team on December 22 at the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara.
Pratika Rawal has showcased a lot of potential in just few ODI matches she played so far for the national women's side. The youngster became the 150th Indian women's cricketer to don the ODI hat. The 24-year-old can surely become a huge asset at the top order for the national side if she continues to play like this.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 15, 2025 09:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).