Pratika Rawal Indian Batter Born, Roots, Injury & Career 2026

Pratika Rawal (often written as Pratika Rawa) is a Delhi‑born top‑order batter who has quickly become one of the brightest new faces in Indian women’s cricket, known for her big scores, strong temperament and a recent injury setback at the 2025 Women’s World Cup. Her story combines city upbringing, village roots, academic excellence, supportive family, a serious ankle injury, and a rapidly rising international career.

Birth, Early Life and Village Roots

Pratika Rawal was born on 1 September 2000 in Delhi, India. She grew up in a middle‑class, education‑focused family where cricket was part of daily life thanks to her father’s connection with the game.

Her father, Pradeep Rawal, is a BCCI‑certified Level‑II umpire with the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA).
Her mother, Rajni Rawal, and her brother Shashwat have also supported her journey from childhood.

Though she was born and raised in Delhi, several profiles highlight that her family traces its roots to a village background, and her parents often took her back to the family village, giving her both urban exposure and rural grounding. This mix of Delhi schooling and village values becomes a recurring theme in her interviews and stories.

Strong Academic Background

Pratika is not just a cricketer; she was a high achiever in studies too.

She scored 92.5% in her CBSE Class 12 board exams, with high marks like 93 in English and Psychology and 95 in Economics.
She studied at Modern School, Barakhamba Road, one of Delhi’s top schools.
She later pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi.

This combination of top‑tier education and elite sport makes her stand out among young Indian cricketers.

Early Life Snapshot

Aspect	Detail
Birth	1 September 2000, Delhi
Family Roots	Delhi‑based, with village background in North India
Father	Pradeep Rawal – BCCI Level‑II umpire (DDCA)
Mother	Rajni Rawal
Sibling	Brother – Shashwat Rawal
Schooling	Modern School, Barakhamba Road, Delhi
Class 12 Score	92.5% (CBSE)
College	Jesus and Mary College, New Delhi (Psychology)

How She Entered Cricket

Pratika’s cricket journey began very early.

She was introduced to cricket in 4th standard, encouraged by her father who saw her natural hand‑eye coordination.
Her father’s background as a DDCA umpire gave her access to proper coaching and grounds, but he also ensured she worked hard and did not get special treatment.

She trained at the Rohtak Road Gymkhana in Delhi under coach Shravan Kumar, often practising with boys. She has spoken about facing teasing and doubts from boys at the academy, which only strengthened her determination.

During the COVID‑19 lockdowns, her family even built practice nets on their terrace so she could keep training every day, a detail that has been highlighted in inspirational features on her life.

Domestic Career: Delhi and Railways

List A Debut and Early Explosion for Delhi

Pratika made her List A debut for Delhi on 31 October 2021 against Jharkhand in the 2021–22 Senior Women’s One Day Trophy.

In that debut season, she scored 247 runs in 7 matches, averaging 49.40.
This included a memorable unbeaten 161 off 155 balls vs Assam at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Dehradun, which brought her into the spotlight as a serious batting talent.

These performances in the 50‑over format made selectors and media mark her as one of Delhi’s most exciting batting prospects.

T20 and U‑23 Leadership

She made her T20 debut for Delhi on 21 April 2022 against Railways in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy.
In 2024, she captained the Delhi Under‑23 T20 team and led them to the final of the Under‑23 T20 Trophy.
In that tournament, she played 9 matches and scored 182 runs, finishing as the second‑highest run‑getter for Delhi after Tanisha Singh.

Her leadership and calm batting under pressure showed that she is not just a scorer but also a potential future captain.

First‑Class (Multi‑Day) Debut

On 3 April 2024, she made her first‑class debut for North Zone against East Zone in the 2023–24 Senior Women’s Inter Zonal Multi‑Day Trophy. This marked her entry into long‑format domestic cricket, important for developing temperament and technique.

Move to Railways

After strong performances for Delhi, Pratika moved to play domestic cricket for Railways, the powerhouse of Indian women’s domestic cricket.

Railways has a history of producing India stars like Mithali Raj, Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana.
Joining Railways gave her stronger competition and better match exposure, which contributed to her India call‑up later.

International Debut and Rising ODI Career

India Debut

Pratika Rawal made her ODI debut for India Women in December 2024 against West Indies.

She became India Women’s ODI cap number 150.
On debut, she scored 40 runs and stitched a 110‑run partnership with Smriti Mandhana, showing good temperament at the top of the order.

Early International Success

Within just a few matches, she established herself as an exciting opening batter:

In her first few ODIs, she scored impressive knocks like 76 and 68, signalling that she could handle international attacks.
In her sixth ODI, she scored a historic 154 off 129 balls vs Ireland, her maiden international century and one of the highest ODI scores by an Indian woman.

Media described her as a “future star of Indian women’s cricket”, highlighting her ability to build long innings and accelerate when needed.

ICC Women’s World Cup 2025: Big Stage and Big Injury

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (CWC25) became both a high point and a painful turning point in Pratika’s career.

Performance in the World Cup

Before her injury, she had a brilliant tournament:

She scored 308 runs in the World Cup, including a match‑winning 122 against New Zealand in a pressure game.
As an opener, she gave India solid starts and built crucial partnerships, quickly becoming a fan favourite.

The Ankle Injury

During India’s final league‑stage match against Bangladesh at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, disaster struck.

In the 21st over of Bangladesh’s innings, Pratika twisted her ankle on a wet outfield while fielding near the deep mid‑wicket boundary.
She fell awkwardly, hurt her ankle (and reportedly the knee area), and limped off the field.
Imaging tests revealed a hairline fracture in her right ankle.

The ICC and media confirmed she was ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup.

She was replaced in the squad by Shafali Verma.
Doctors advised her at least three weeks rest, use of a moonboot, and a longer rehabilitation period at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

Injury Summary (World Cup 2025)

Aspect	Detail
Tournament	ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 (CWC25)
Match	India vs Bangladesh – final league match
Venue	DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai
Incident	Twisted ankle while fielding near boundary
Injury	Hairline fracture in right ankle
Immediate Result	Ruled out of remainder of the World Cup
Replacement	Shafali Verma
Rehab Plan	Rest, moonboot, further scans, BCCI rehab centre

Despite the setback, she stayed with the team. One widely shared story mentions her attending the final in a wheelchair, waving the Indian flag as India lifted the World Cup trophy, symbolising her emotional connection to the campaign.

Style of Play: Technique and Temperament

Profiles and analyses describe Pratika Rawal as:

A right‑hand opening batter with solid basics.
Strong both in front‑foot drives and pull/ cut shots.
Able to construct long innings, as seen in her 161* in domestic and 154 vs Ireland at international level.
Mentally tough, with the ability to balance aggression and patience.

Her psychology background may also contribute to her mental strength and game awareness, helping her stay calm in pressure situations.

Key Career Stats (Up to Early 2026)

Exact updated aggregate numbers are still evolving, but public sources give a broad picture.

Domestic Highlights (Delhi & Railways)

2021–22 List A for Delhi: 247 runs in 7 matches, average ~49.40, with 161 vs Assam*.
Led Delhi U‑23 T20 team to the final, scoring 182 runs in 9 matches.
Multiple centuries in domestic one‑day cricket for Delhi and Railways combined.

International ODI Highlights

ODI debut: December 2024 vs West Indies, scored 40 with a 110‑run stand with Mandhana.
Maiden ODI century: 154 off 129 vs Ireland (6th ODI).
World Cup 2025: 308 runs, including 122 vs New Zealand.

Career Highlight Knocks

Level	Score	Opponent	Context
Domestic	161* (155)	Assam	Senior Women’s One Day Trophy for Delhi
Domestic	Multiple 100s	Various	For Delhi and later Railways
ODI	154 (129)	Ireland	Maiden international century (6th ODI)
ODI	122	New Zealand	World Cup 2025 league match
ODI	40	West Indies	Debut innings, 110‑run stand with Mandhana

Family Support and Personal Life

Pratika often credits her family for her success.

Her father, Pradeep Rawal, turned his passion for cricket into support for his daughter’s career, guiding her with an umpire’s eye and investing in coaching and terrace nets.
Her mother, Rajni, and brother Shashwat provided emotional support and helped her manage studies and sport.

Off the field:

She has played basketball at a competitive level, winning a gold medal at the 64th School National Games in 2019 for Bal Bharati School.
She is known to be soft‑spoken but extremely determined, often described as a “scholar‑athlete” for her blend of education and elite sport.

There is no credible public information suggesting she is married or in a public relationship; most media focus on her cricket, family and academic background.

Impact of the Injury and Comeback Path

The hairline fracture in her right ankle was a serious setback, coming just when she had established herself as a top ODI opener.

Rehab steps as reported:

3 weeks of rest with a moonboot and controlled weight‑bearing.
Follow‑up scans and specialist consultation.
Rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, focusing on strength, balance and match‑fitness.

While no exact return date has been publicly confirmed, experts and media suggest that with proper rehab, she is likely to return to full fitness, though the final timeline depends on how the ankle heals.

Why Pratika Rawal Matters for Indian Cricket

In 2026, Pratika Rawal represents a new generation of Indian women cricketers who are:

Technically strong and mentally tough.
Well‑educated and media‑savvy.
Coming from both urban centres like Delhi and village roots, with family stories that inspire young girls.

Her journey—from terrace nets and balancing board exams to World Cup runs and a painful injury—is now used in media as an inspirational example of resilience and ambition.

2026 Snapshot: Pratika Rawal

Aspect	Status (2026)
Age	25
Role	Right‑hand opening batter
Domestic Teams	Delhi (earlier), Railways
India Debut	ODI – December 2024 vs West Indies
ODI Highlights	154 vs Ireland, 122 vs New Zealand
Education	92.5% in Class 12, Psychology graduate
Family	Daughter of BCCI Level‑II umpire Pradeep Rawal
Major Setback	Ankle hairline fracture at CWC25 (Oct 2025)
Outlook	Key part of India’s future top order

Pratika Rawal’s 2026 story is therefore a mix of Delhi birth, deep family and village roots, an inspiring rise through domestic cricket, a big World Cup high, a serious injury, and a determined path to comeback, making her one of the most closely watched names in Indian women’s cricket today.

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