The Semi-Final against Australia is scheduled for October 30.
Pratika Rawal injury has hit India with a big blow as the Indian opener is ruled out of the Women’s World Cup Semi-Final against Australia on 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 over, 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 caused injuries to the knee and ankle. It may have just cost India Women their World Cup trophy too.
Watch the video here:
Bangladesh put up 119/9 in 27 overs. India expected to chase the target with ease, but the match ended with no result. Smriti Mandhana (34) and Amanjot Kaur (15) added 57 runs in 8.4 overs.
However, last night’s clash was a dead rubber. Rawal’s absence did not affect India’s qualification chances. But Rawal being unfit for the Semi-Final, and hopefully the Final, is a huge blow to India’s dream of lifting the ICC trophy at home.
Details of ICC Women’s World Cup 2025
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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.
Having played just 23 WODIs so far, the 25-year-old is of paramount importance to India. The duo of Rawal and 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. As for the dead rubber, Amanjot walked out to bat along with Mandhana. India don’t have another designated opener, which means they’re already a weaker side on paper. A replacement can be requested. Another option is Uma Chetry. She, who opened the innings for India in the warm-up matches, could be promoted up the order. The No.3 batter will follow suit.
After Pratika Rawal injury, here is India’s likely playing XI for the Semi-Final clash.
Smriti Mandhana, Uma Chetry, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Shree Charani, and Renuka Singh Thakur.
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