In a moment destined to echo through Indian women’s cricket history, 25-year-old opening batter Pratika Rawal achieved a phenomenal milestone, becoming the fastest Indian to surpass 1,000 ODI runs, reaching the landmark in just 23 innings.
With this, she joins Australia’s Lindsay Reeler as the joint fastest in ODI history to achieve the feat. Rawal, who began the day just 12 runs shy of the mark, reached the milestone in India’s crucial 6th ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 fixture against New Zealand, captained by Sophie Devine, at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, on 23rd October 2025.
The record-breaking day turned even more memorable as Rawal compiled a majestic 122 from 134 balls, decorated with 13 fours and 2 sixes, marking her maiden World Cup century and second in ODI cricket. Her innings powered India to their highest total in ICC Women’s ODI World Cup history, 340/3 (49 overs), after rain slightly shortened the match.
Alongside Smriti Mandhana (109 off 95 balls), Rawal orchestrated a breathtaking 212-run opening partnership, the highest for any wicket by India in Women’s ODI World Cup history. The duo’s record stand provided India the dominance they sought in a match critical to keeping their semifinal hopes alive after three consecutive losses.
Since making her international debut on 22nd December 2024 against West Indies in Vadodara, Pratika Rawal’s ascent in ODI cricket has been nothing short of meteoric. With 1,110 runs at an average of 50.45 and a strike rate of 82.83 in 23 innings, the prodigious right-hander has already crafted a profile of consistency and dominance.
Her tally includes 7 fifties and 2 centuries, with her career-best, a match-winning 154 off 129 balls against Ireland at Rajkot on 15th January 2025, standing out as one of India’s most commanding individual performances in recent times.
That knock, studded with 20 boundaries and a six, earned her the Player of the Match award and cemented her reputation as a generational batting talent capable of balancing aggression with elegance. As she now transitions her domestic and bilateral success into global milestones, Rawal’s World Cup form serves as another validation of her rising stature.
In her debut World Cup campaign, Rawal has seamlessly adapted to the global stage, ranking as India’s second highest and the tournament’s second-highest run-scorer with 308 runs at an average of 51.33 and a strike rate of 77.77 after six innings. Her performances have blended maturity with flair, providing India with solid starts and indispensable momentum at the top. With key fixtures still remaining, Rawal’s consistency could define India’s trajectory toward the semifinals and beyond.
For Indian cricket, Pratika Rawal’s rapid surge to 1,000 ODI runs symbolises more than a personal triumph; it represents the arrival of a new era guided by youthful ambition and statistical brilliance. Her journey, from debuting less than a year ago to rewriting record books on the grandest stage, stands as one of the most inspiring narratives of the ongoing World Cup.
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