Pratika Rawal Shines: Maiden World Cup Century Ignites India’s Women’s Cricket

Pratika Rawal etched her name into cricket history with her maiden century in the Women’s World Cup, guiding India to a commanding total against New Zealand at Navi Mumbai’s Dr DY Patil Stadium. The 25-year-old’s sublime innings of 122 off 134 balls, featuring 13 fours and two sixes, was met with thunderous applause from a crowd of 25,166, including her proud father, Pradeep Rawal, who has nurtured her talent since she was three years old.

Pratika and Smriti Mandhana formed a record-breaking 212-run opening partnership, demonstrating a seamless blend of elegance and strategy. While Mandhana struck a scintillating 109 off 95 balls, Pratika’s composed approach rotated the strike efficiently, building innings that kept India’s scoring rate consistent.

Pradeep Rawal recalled the journey that led to this defining moment. “Whenever the crowd roared ‘Pratika Rawal! Pratika Rawal!’, I felt goosebumps. To see the child I trained since she was three play for India in a crucial World Cup match and score a century was incredibly emotional,” he told IndiaToday.in.

From early talent spotted at age nine—when she stunned Ranji Trophy players—to her achievements in basketball, including a gold medal at the 64th School National Games in 2019, Pratika’s versatility was evident. Choosing cricket over basketball in 2020, she made her domestic debut for Delhi in 2021 before moving to Railways in 2024. Under the guidance of coach Deepti Dhyani, she refined her technique, enhancing her natural ability to rotate the strike and play grounded shots.

Pratika’s consistency is remarkable. She became the joint-fastest batter to reach 1,000 runs in Women’s ODIs, alongside Australia’s Lindsay Reeler, amassing 1,110 runs in 23 innings at an average of 50.45 and a strike rate of 82.83. Her father credits the contrasting yet complementary batting styles between Pratika and Mandhana for their successful partnership.

Looking ahead, Pradeep remains confident in India’s chances in the semi-finals against Australia or South Africa. “India is the only team in the world that can beat Australia,” he said.

With a career blossoming rapidly, Pratika Rawal is poised to become one of Indian women’s cricket’s long-term stars. Her maiden century is just the beginning of a journey that promises to inspire generations, combining grace, maturity, and strategic brilliance at the top of the order.