Debutants often get anxious when they step into the longest format of the game, especially when they are playing for their country, but Pratika Rawal displayed a lot of character in her debut Test match against the Australian Women’s side. The Indian opener played a resilient knock of 63 in the second innings despite wickets falling at the other end. She looked technically sound with the bat as the Australian bowling unit was difficult to contain, but she handled them quite well, and it showed that she could be the perfect fit for India’s test batting unit.
“That’s the beauty of the game, and I wasn’t thinking that it was my first test or that I’m playing my debut for my country. This jersey is something that is very special to me, and I carry a lot of responsibility on my shoulders,” said Pratika Rawal.
She was simply sensational for India in the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup as she consistently scored runs at the top and provided valuable support to her fellow opener, Smriti Mandhana, until Pratika met with an injury in the latter stage of the tournament.
A Test cap is the dream of every young aspiring cricketer, and to have scored a half-century in your debut match will definitely be a moment to cherish in one’s career. Pratika’s attitude towards the game could be a promising sign as she is willingly shouldering the responsibility of the batting unit, and this kind of mentality is what shapes leaders. She will be hopeful that she can score many more impactful knocks for her country and emerge as potentially one of the best test players in world cricket.
“This is one of the best formats that the game has to offer, and if we can play more, it is gonna be good for us as a team, because then you get a lot of experience when you are put into situations and you will get to know how to tackle them, to overcome them and how to assess better,” expressed Pratika Rawal.
Test cricket is considered the purest form of cricket, and to thrive in a Test match is no easy feat. Women play relatively fewer Test matches, and she emphasises the impact of Test cricket on the abilities of players. This format of cricket offers a diverse range of expertise, as you could be put up to unprecedented challenges, and each time you find new ways to tackle situations.
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