The Women's World Cup is being hosted in India this time, and Team India has secured a spot in the semifinals with an excellent performance. The most significant contribution to the team reaching this stage came from young batter Pratika Rawal, whose batting challenged opposing teams.
Sports News: Young batter Pratika Rawal's contribution was crucial in Team India reaching the semifinals of the Women's World Cup 2025. Specifically, her century and rapid scoring against New Zealand led the team to a decisive victory. Pratika also set a record for being the fastest Indian woman to complete 1,000 ODI runs, achieving it in just 23 innings. However, behind this success, her hard work and the role of her father, Pradeep Rawal, were paramount.
A Father's Dream and a Daughter's Hard Work
Pratika's cricketing journey began with her father, Pradeep Rawal. Pradeep wanted his daughter to achieve success in cricket on a big stage one day. For this, he turned the rooftop of their home in Delhi into Pratika's practice ground. During the pandemic, this rooftop became Pratika's biggest support.
Pradeep installed poles and green nets on the rooftop and would come daily, morning and evening, to give Pratika throwdowns. Since Pradeep himself had been a fast bowler, giving throwdowns came naturally to him. Pratika practiced 400-500 balls every day, and she would neither sleep nor eat until she had completed her practice. Pradeep Rawal stated, "This was a difficult phase in Pratika's career. But we were confident that hard work would certainly pay off."
Decisive Innings in the Women's World Cup
In the match against New Zealand in Navi Mumbai, Pratika scored 122 runs off 134 balls, including 13 fours and 2 sixes. This innings not only helped India win the match but also secured Team India's spot in the semifinals. During this innings, Pratika also claimed the record for being the fastest woman to score 1,000 runs in ODIs.
The way she accelerated her scoring after a slow start was a testament to her hard work and mental fortitude. Coach Amol Muzumdar had stated before the match that Pratika is a reliable opener and would make a significant contribution to the team.
Cricket Journey and Early Struggles
Pratika's cricketing journey began under the guidance of coach Shravan Kumar at Rohtak Road Gymkhana. Shravan Kumar said, "She was the first girl to be trained at my academy. Her talent was evident, and she never shied away from facing players older than herself." Pratika always displayed athletic prowess. Achievements like winning a gold medal in basketball at the national level strengthened her sportsmanship.
At just three years old, Pradeep Rawal introduced Pratika to cricket by handing her a bat. This dedication, which began at a young age, has proven decisive for Team India today. Pratika's selection into Team India came late; she was 24 years old when she was first included in the ODI squad. Pradeep Rawal shared that when he received the news, his tears of joy wouldn't stop.
Since her international debut, Pratika has strengthened the team by forming an opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana. Mandhana stated, "Pratika and I are like-minded players. We give each other the opportunity to play comfortably." Pratika's journey has proven that a father's hard work and support can be an inspiration for any athlete.
Pratika Rawal's story is inspiring. This girl from Delhi fulfilled her father's dream and also became a record-breaking batter for Team India. Her hard work, patience, and every struggle shared with her father have brought her to this position today.
