Indian women’s cricket opener Pratika Rawal marked her show in the third and final ODI against Ireland in Rajkot. Just in her sixth ODI outing, Rawal achieved her first international century, hammering 154 off 129 balls. She arrived at her hundred at a run-a-ball speed and accelerated through the innings after that. Along with stand-in captain Smriti Mandhana, who smacked a cracking 135, Rawal was instrumental in driving India to a mountainous total of 435/5 — the highest ever for the country in the 50-over format.
Early Life & Background
Pratika was born in Delhi on 1 September 2000 and, although sporty from early on, she never just limited her self to playing cricket. Instead, she proved herself as an efficient basketball player of the Bal Bharati School, Rajender Nagar, as well, which earned for the school team a gold medal in the 64th National School Games of Delhi in January 2019.
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Modern School, Barakhamba Road: She finished schooling here. While in school, she topped class every year without any gap whatsoever. Pratika secured a stunning 92.5 percent in her CBSE board examination. Subsequent to that Pratika sought out the path where she wanted her heart’s interests. Pratika chose Bachelors Psychology at Jesus & Mary College in New Delhi
The Rising Star In Cricket
Pratika began training here under Coach Sharvan Kumar as Rohtak Road Gymkhana Cricket Academy. Pratika played for Delhi between 2021 and 2024. Now, she plays for the Railways, under which she continues to shine. The recent series against the West Indies marked her international debut, and it was with a bang because Pratika managed to perform very well with both bat and ball. During her debut game, she contributed 40 runs and forged an important 110-run stand with Smriti Mandhana. She also made her bowling debut for Pratika and took West Indies captain Hailey Matthews’ wicket to claim her first ODI wicket.
Mental Make-Up for Success
After reaching her maiden century, Pratika credited her love for both cricket and psychology as key factors driving her journey to the Indian national team. She emphasized how her deep understanding of her subject, coupled with her passion for the sport, has been pivotal in helping her stay focused and excel in the competitive world of cricket.
