In the world of women’s cricket, Pratika Rawal shines brightly. She is a key player in the India women’s cricket team. Her journey from a young fan to a top player is inspiring. At 24, Pratika Rawal has made a significant impact in women’s cricket. Her performances have won over fans in India. Her recent success in international matches is a highlight. Pratika’s ODI debut was unforgettable. She scored 154 runs against Ireland, a rare achievement. Her batting average and strike rate show her skill and consistency.
Rawal’s story is one of passion and dedication. She started playing cricket in the third standard. Now, she’s a role model for young athletes in India.
Early Life and Educational Background
Pratika Rawal’s cricket journey started in New Delhi’s lively schools. Born on September 1, 2000, she was a young athlete with a knack for both studies and sports. At Modern School, Barakhamba Road, her love for sports grew. Pratika was great at cricket and basketball. She even won a gold medal at the 64th School National Games in January 2019.
Sports Foundation
Pratika started playing cricket at 10. This early start helped her become a batting star in domestic cricket. She then went to Jesus & Mary College to improve her skills in both studies and sports. Her mix of academic dedication and sports passion made her career in Indian cricket stand out. She went from a young athlete to a key player in cricket.
Rise in Domestic Cricket
Pratika Rawal started her journey in domestic cricket with Delhi from 2021 to 2024. Her skills quickly made her a favorite among fans and selectors. She became a rising star in the cricket world. Rawal showed her batting skills with a standout 161-run innings. These innings proved her technical skill and consistency. The Cricket Association of Bengal and other teams saw her great talent in tournaments.
- Played for Delhi from 2021 to early 2024
- Transitioned to Railways team
- Made List A debut against Jharkhand on October 31, 2021
Rawal’s Women’s List A cricket stats are impressive. She played 42 matches, scoring 1,812 runs with an average of 58.45. She hit 5 centuries and 10 fifties, showing her consistent performance in the BCCI Women’s T20 Challenger Trophy and other competitions.
Rawal’s Gujarat cricket connections and her ability to perform under pressure made her stand out. Her quick rise through the ranks made her a player to watch. This paved the way for her selection to the national team.
Pratika Rawal Cricketer: Journey to International Fame
Pratika Rawal’s move to international cricket was a big step in her career. Her debut showed her amazing talent and her chance to be a key player in women’s cricket. On December 22, 2024, Pratika made her One Day International (ODI) debut against West Indies. She quickly caught the eye of cricket fans. Her first match was incredible, showing she can handle the pressure in international cricket.
Debut Performance Highlights
- Scored an impressive 40 runs in her ODI debut match
- Formed a remarkable 110-run partnership with Smriti Mandhana
- Became the 150th player to represent India Women in ODIs
Her success in T20 internationals and her chance for the ICC T20 World Cup boosted her fame. The Women’s IPL gave her another chance to show off her batting skills and strategic play.
In her next games, Pratika kept impressing everyone. In her sixth international game, she scored her first ODI century, getting 154 runs off 129 balls. Her consistent play showed her growing confidence and skill in international cricket.
Partnership and Performance
- Formed a record-breaking 233-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana
- Scored three fifties in four innings before her century
- Maintained an impressive List-A career strike rate of 75.58
Pratika Rawal’s journey in international cricket is a mix of talent, hard work, and smart play. She is seen as a promising young talent in Indian women’s cricket.
Batting Prowess and Technical Excellence
Pratika Rawal is a standout right-handed batswoman known for her exceptional batting technique. She has gone from a promising talent to a true technical marvel.
Her batting skills are truly impressive:
- Strong off-side play that shows precision and control
- Ability to hit powerful long sixes with consistent technique
- Exceptional footwork against right-arm off-break bowlers
Her breakthrough came in her third ODI against Ireland, where she scored 154 runs. This innings showed her exceptional bowling analysis and strategic batting. It proved she can quickly adapt to international cricket, showing her technical skills.
Coaches have praised Rawal’s commitment to a well-rounded batting style. She can read different bowling scenarios and adjust her technique. Her 154-run innings showed her huge talent and made her a rising star in Indian women’s cricket. With every match, Pratika keeps improving her batting technique. She is not just a promising talent but a strategic and technically sound batswoman. She is changing the game in women’s cricket.
Professional Development and Training
Pratika Rawal’s cricket career was shaped by top-notch coaching and hard work. Her journey shows how important mentorship is in the BCCI world.
She got help from famous coaches who saw her talent early. Key mentors in her career were:
- Sharvan Kumar: Technical batting coach
- Dipti Dhyani: Strategy and mental conditioning expert
- Dishant Yagnik: Fielding and performance enhancement specialist
Parental Influence and Training
Pratika’s dad, Pradeep Rawal, a BCCI-certified umpire, was very important. He gave her great advice and support during her growth. Her training mixed hard skill work with learning strategies. She took every coaching chance seriously, turning lessons into real field skills. This made her a key player for India’s cricket future.
- Focused on continuous skill improvement
- Learned from diverse coaching perspectives
- Developed a holistic approach to cricket training
Thanks to hard training and great mentorship, Pratika Rawal became a strong player in national cricket.
Notable Achievements and Records
Pratika Rawal has made a big impact in Indian women’s cricket. She has broken many records and set new standards for young players. Her journey is filled with amazing performances that show her incredible talent.
Some of her key achievements include:
- First ODI century with an impressive 154 runs off 129 balls
- World record for most runs in first six ODI innings with 444 total runs
- Fourth-highest debut ODI score in women’s cricket history
- Two centuries and two fifties in recent domestic tournaments
In the Trailblazer series for India Blue and India Green, Rawal showed her skills. Her 2022-23 season was outstanding, scoring 552 runs in 14 matches. The 2024 season also saw her shine, with 411 runs in seven innings and an average of 68.50. Rawal has also done well in domestic cricket. She led the Delhi U-23 team to the T20 Trophy final. She ranked fourth in run-scoring in the Women’s Delhi Premier League. Her List-A career average is 54.72, and her strike rate is 75.58, inspiring many young cricketers.
- Became the 150th player to represent Indian women’s cricket team
- Scored an unbeaten 161 runs off 155 balls in a standout performance
- Captured two wickets for 37 runs in her second international match
Pratika Rawal’s journey in women’s cricket is full of promise. She is likely to break more records and achieve great things in the future.
Personal Life and Family Support
Pratika Rawal’s journey in Indian women’s cricket shows the power of family support. She lives in West Patel Nagar, Delhi, with a family that supports her cricket dreams. Her father, Pradeep Rawal, is a BCCI-certified umpire who helped spark her love for cricket early on. The Rawal family supports Pratika’s dreams in creative ways. They balance her schoolwork with her cricket goals. They use rewards for good grades and offer emotional and financial support for her cricket.
- Incentivizing academic performance with cricket-related rewards
- Providing emotional and financial support for her cricket journey
- Encouraging her to pursue both education and sports simultaneously
Pratika’s success in women’s cricket is thanks to her family’s support. They believed in her, helping her overcome sports challenges while keeping up with school. She even scored 92.5% in her CBSE exams, showing her dedication and family support can lead to great achievements.
Her story inspires many young cricketers. It shows that with the right support, athletes can do well in school and sports. The Rawal family’s dedication to Pratika’s dreams highlights the impact of family support in Indian women’s cricket.
Conclusion
Pratika Rawal’s journey shows the bright future of Indian cricket. She’s a cricket prodigy who has made a mark in women’s cricket. Her batting average of 74 in six ODI matches is impressive. Her record-breaking partnerships show her huge talent. She could change the game. Rawal, from Delhi, has broken many barriers. She went from being a school basketball star to an international cricket player. Her story inspires girls all over India.
She’s not just about sports; she’s a symbol of change. She’s challenging old views and opening new doors for women in cricket. Pratika Rawal is more than a rising star. She’s a source of hope for young cricketers. Her first international century and over 400 runs in her first six ODI innings show her talent. She’s set to play a big role in women’s cricket in India. Her journey shows that true sports greatness is about passion, hard work, and following dreams. Pratika Rawal is not just a player. She’s a symbol of change, inspiring a new generation to break barriers and achieve in women’s sports.
