India’s Pratika Rawal Ruled Out of Women’s World Cup Semi-Final Against Australia
In-form opener sustained knee and ankle injuries and will miss India’s crucial knockout match in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup
India’s batting line-up has suffered a serious blow ahead of the semi-final of the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup as opener Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the knockout match against Australia.
Rawal, who has amassed 308 runs from six innings in the tournament, injured her right leg while fielding in a rain-hit group game versus Bangladesh at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
She twisted her ankle while running to her left from deep mid-wicket and was stretchered from the field with visible discomfort.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India medical team confirmed that Rawal sustained injuries to both her knee and ankle, and they are closely monitoring her progress.
The timing could not be worse: her absence comes just days before India’s semi-final clash with defending champions Australia, in which the home side were relying on Rawal’s form and consistency at the top of the order.
Rawal’s contributions throughout the tournament had included a 122-run century in India’s must-win victory over New Zealand, which helped secure a semi-final berth.
Her 212-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana against New Zealand was key to that win.
The loss of such a player leaves the Indian selectors with a difficult decision over how to reconfigure the top of the batting order.
Among the candidates for the opening slot are Harleen Deol, who usually bats at number three but has the technique and experience to partner Mandhana, and Amanjot Kaur, who replaced Rawal in the last match against Bangladesh and could be a short-term fill-in.
Also under consideration are Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, both of whom have opened before in One-Day Internationals, and 23-year-old Uma Chetry, who opened in a warm-up game.
While Rawal remains technically part of the squad and has not been formally ruled out of the final should India advance, team management are preparing for the semi-final without her.
The setback is compounded by the fact that Rawal has been a linchpin in India’s batting resurgence during the tournament.
The team’s focus now shifts to final-four preparation and ensuring stability at the top of the order ahead of the high-stakes meeting with Australia.
As the Women’s ODI World Cup advances into its knockout phase, India's management will be keen to blend composure with adaptability.
The semi-final at home presents a high-pressure opportunity — and in Rawal’s absence, the depth and resilience of India’s batting bench will be tested as never before.
Rawal, who has amassed 308 runs from six innings in the tournament, injured her right leg while fielding in a rain-hit group game versus Bangladesh at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
She twisted her ankle while running to her left from deep mid-wicket and was stretchered from the field with visible discomfort.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India medical team confirmed that Rawal sustained injuries to both her knee and ankle, and they are closely monitoring her progress.
The timing could not be worse: her absence comes just days before India’s semi-final clash with defending champions Australia, in which the home side were relying on Rawal’s form and consistency at the top of the order.
Rawal’s contributions throughout the tournament had included a 122-run century in India’s must-win victory over New Zealand, which helped secure a semi-final berth.
Her 212-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana against New Zealand was key to that win.
The loss of such a player leaves the Indian selectors with a difficult decision over how to reconfigure the top of the batting order.
Among the candidates for the opening slot are Harleen Deol, who usually bats at number three but has the technique and experience to partner Mandhana, and Amanjot Kaur, who replaced Rawal in the last match against Bangladesh and could be a short-term fill-in.
Also under consideration are Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh, both of whom have opened before in One-Day Internationals, and 23-year-old Uma Chetry, who opened in a warm-up game.
While Rawal remains technically part of the squad and has not been formally ruled out of the final should India advance, team management are preparing for the semi-final without her.
The setback is compounded by the fact that Rawal has been a linchpin in India’s batting resurgence during the tournament.
The team’s focus now shifts to final-four preparation and ensuring stability at the top of the order ahead of the high-stakes meeting with Australia.
As the Women’s ODI World Cup advances into its knockout phase, India's management will be keen to blend composure with adaptability.
The semi-final at home presents a high-pressure opportunity — and in Rawal’s absence, the depth and resilience of India’s batting bench will be tested as never before.
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