“I was telling my coach that my dad sent me something about a world record, but I hadn’t checked it. And now I find out that I’m the fastest to 500 runs, it feels good.”
Pratika Rawal’s meteoric rise in international women’s cricket has captivated all spectators alike. Since making her debut in December 2024 against the West Indies, the youngster from West Patel Nagar, Delhi, has broken records for herself, being a cornerstone for the national team.
The youngster made her debut in 2024, during the ODI series against West Indies. Opening alongside Smriti Mandhana, she scored 40 runs and contributed to a 110-run opening stand, marking only the third instance of an Indian opening pair achieving a 100-run partnership with a debutant.
In her subsequent matches Rawal showcased remarkable consistency. She time and again stepped as the leading run-scorer, scoring 76 runs in the second ODI against West Indies, 89 runs in the first ODI against Ireland, 67 runs in the second ODI against Ireland and a commanding 154 runs in the third ODI against Ireland.
Her innings was part of a 233-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, India’s third-highest partnership for any wicket in Women’s ODIs. She was even awarded with the Player of the Match and series against Ireland. These impressive runs culminated in her amassing 444 runs in her first six ODI innings, surpassing the previous record held by England’s Charlotte Edwards (434 runs).
In the ongoing Tri-Nation series in Sri Lanka, India has been leading with two consecutive wins. Speaking about her recent record of the fastest to 500 runs in Women’s ODIs and her 5th consecutive fifty, she shared, “It’s actually been a dream run for me. To be on the winning side is always grateful, and to be playing with these girls, it’s amazing. I don’t have to do much; just do what I do best-play on merit, look for gaps, keep things simple, and not overthink.”
Pratika Rawal also shared a heartwarming moment from her recent experience, reflecting the growing popularity of women’s cricket in India. While traveling back home on the metro, she was pleasantly surprised when a fellow passenger recognized her. “The only thing they said to me was, ‘Keep scoring runs,’” she recounted with a smile.
While in the recent match between India and South Africa, where India fought back to register a 15 runs win, Pratika was asked about her thoughts on India leading the series, she remarked, “I don’t focus too much on targets or records. I just try to do what I do best-contribute as much as I can to the team. I really enjoy being on the winning side, and I’m happy with the way we are progressing right now.
“It’s great to see debutants stepping up, chipping in and making an impact. We’re not just doing well with the bat, but also in our bowling and fielding departments. There were some brilliant efforts on the field today-Aman and Jemmie, for example, made some amazing stops. With multiple series ahead of us, it’s encouraging to see different players performing and lifting the team.”
India is building on the momentum and started strong with two consecutive wins in the Lankan soil. While the team is set to take on Sri Lanka on 4th May, spectators will eagerly watch to see who’s breaking records or rewriting their names into the history books.
(Quotes sourced from ThePapare)
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