The Semi-Final against Australia is scheduled for October 30.
During the 21st over of the rain-curtailed Women’s World Cup 2025 match in Navi Mumbai, Pratika Rawal injury hit the panic button in the India Women’s camp. After a long pause due to rain, the last league match of the WC tourney between India and Bangladesh returned to action with 27 overs per side.
On the last ball of Deepti Sharma’s ball, Sharmin Akhter swiped for four. Rawal ran on her left towards the long-on to save some runs. But she skidded on the wet outfield. The ball rolled away for four runs, but the slip may have just cost India Women their World Cup trophy.
Watch the video here:
The slip caused injuries to the knee and ankle. The BCCI has issued their statement on the same.
“All-rounder Pratika Rawal sustained an injury to her knee and ankle while fielding in the 1st innings against Bangladesh. The BCCI Medical Team is closely monitoring her progress.”
Bangladesh put up 119/9 in 27 overs. India are expected to chase the target with ease. However, the ongoing clash is a dead rubber. Rawal’s absence may not affect India’s qualification chances. However, whether Rawal will be fit just in time to bat in the Semi-Final, and hopefully the Final, will be a test of patience.
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India will face Australia in the second Semi-Final clash on October 30 in Guwahati. A day before, England and South Africa will go head-to-head in the first Semi-Final. The two finalists will meet on November 2 in Navi Mumbai for the title clash. This leaves three days for Pratika Rawal injury to heal.
Having played just 23 WODIs so far, the 25-year-old is of paramount importance to India. The duo of Rawal and Smriti Mandhana has stitched record-breaking partnerships, their latest one being 212 runs in a must-win clash against New Zealand three days ago. Both batters struck a century each. It was their second-highest partnership, after 233 against Ireland earlier this year.
India’s opening pair has two 150+ scores also from 2025. Their 155-run partnership came against Australia in the ongoing tourney.
Talking about the WC, Rawal is the second-leading run-getter, trailing Mandhana. In seven matches, she has 308 runs at a 51+ average while striking at 77.77.
Overall, Rawal’s ODI stats read as 1,110 runs with an average of 50.45 and a strike rate of 82.83. She has amassed two centuries and seven fifties so far.
The absence of Rawal will affect the team combination too. As of the dead rubber, Amanjot Kaur has walked out to bat along with Mandhana. India don’t have another designated opener, which means they’re already a weaker side on paper. Uma Chetry, who opened the innings for India in the warm-up matches, will be promoted up the order. The No.3 batter will follow suit.
After Pratika Rawal injury, the Indian contingent of players and fans alike would be praying with bated breath till another update follows.
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