As Pratika Rawal removed her helmet to celebrate her maiden Women’s World Cup century against New Zealand at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai, the crowd erupted in delight. The 25-year-old raised her bat to acknowledge the roaring support as chants of “Pratika! Pratika!” echoed throughout the stadium.
Among the 25,166 spectators cheering for India’s rising star was a familiar face – one who had dreamt of this moment all his life and was overwhelmed to see it unfold before his eyes. Pratika’s father, Pradeep Rawal, was in attendance to witness his daughter announce herself on the grand stage of the World Cup.
Watching her realise a dream he had nurtured for years, Pradeep was both elated and emotional – his decision to train Pratika, a student of psychology, from the tender age of three now vindicated in the most spectacular fashion.
Coming into the match amid murmurs about her strike rate, Pratika began her innings in her typically composed manner before pacing it beautifully to produce the finest knock of her career so far. A sublime innings of 122 off 134 balls, laced with 13 fours and two sixes, helped India post a commanding total of 340 for 3 in 49 overs.
She was involved in a monumental 212-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, who herself struck a scintillating 109 off 95 balls, showcasing her trademark strokeplay with elegance and authority.
As Pratika soaked in the rapturous applause from the crowd for her stellar performance, Pradeep watched on from a distance, savouring every second of a moment he had long envisioned — his daughter shining on the world stage.
‘Pratika! Pratika! chants made me emotional’
“I was inside the stadium, and whenever the crowd roared ‘Pratika Rawal! Pratika Rawal!’, I got goosebumps. I felt an immense sense of pride, seeing my child playing for India. The one we trained and watched grow up is now representing the country, playing in a World Cup, and that too, in such a crucial match. It was a real do-or-die game today, and she scored a hundred — her first in a World Cup. That makes me extremely proud,” Pradeep told IndiaToday.in.
Pradeep has played a pivotal role in shaping his daughter’s career, beginning her training at the tender age of three. A medium pacer and hard-hitting batter during his university days, he adopted a contrasting approach while coaching his daughter, urging her to play along the ground – a trait that laid the foundation for her elegant batting style. He also credited Railways coach Deepti Dhyani for transforming Pratika’s game after taking her under her wing in 2017.
“In her childhood, I was her first coach. I always told her, ‘Play with your head down, keep your shots grounded.’ Then, in 2017, Coach Deepti Dhyani from Railways came into her life and worked on her technique. The improvements you see today are all thanks to her,” Pradeep recalled.
On Thursday, Pratika etched her name into the record books, becoming the joint-fastest batter to reach 1,000 runs in Women’s ODIs, alongside Australia’s Lindsay Reeler. The 25-year-old has enjoyed a stellar start to her career, amassing 1,110 runs from 23 innings at an average of 50.45 and a strike rate of 82.83, including two centuries and seven fifties.
WHEN PRATIKA STUNNED RANJI STARS
Her success, however, has come as no surprise to her father, who spotted her potential early on – back when, as a nine-year-old, she was already leaving seasoned Ranji Trophy players astonished by her stroke play.
“I handed her a bat when she was just three years old. When she turned nine, I sent her to an academy. There was a university-level match once at Lakshmibai College, where some of the girls were Ranji Trophy players — and nine-year-old Pratika scored fifty runs in that game. All the senior players were amazed, saying, ‘Uncle, your daughter has something special — she’s India-level material’,” said Pradeep.
“When they said that, I felt a real sense of hope. Every parent loves their child, of course, but when experienced players say something like that, you start believing it. That’s when I knew she would play for India one day,” he added.
Cricket, however, wasn’t the only sport that captured Pratika’s interest during her formative years. She was also a talented basketball player and even won a gold medal at the 64th School National Games in Delhi in 2019. It wasn’t until 2020 that Pratika finally chose cricket over basketball, making her domestic debut for Delhi in 2021, before moving to Railways in 2024.
Pratika made her international debut against the West Indies in December 2024, getting her cap from idol Smriti Mandhana. During the first ODI in Vadodara, she scored a composed 40, followed by a classy 76 (86) in the second ODI. Since then, the 25-year-old has forged a formidable opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, with the duo amassing 1,799 runs from 23 innings, including seven century stands — the joint-second highest for the opening wicket in women’s cricket.
STRIKE RATE AN ISSUE?
Pradeep attributes their success to their contrasting yet complementary styles, which allow them to navigate different phases of the game seamlessly.
“It’s been very beneficial. See, Smriti is a senior player and currently ranked number one. She has already scored seventeen centuries — she’s a top-class batter. She keeps scoring freely, while Pratika rotates the strike beautifully with singles and doubles. Because of that, the run rate never drops. Pratika supports Smriti really well, and that’s why their partnership has been so successful,” Pradeep told India Today.
He also addressed the strike-rate debate surrounding his daughter, reiterating that every player has a distinct approach to the game.
“Look, every player is different. Some are stroke players, some are strike players, and some focus on rotating the strike. Everyone has their own style. You can’t compare one player with another — especially not with Smriti. She’s number one and has her own unique approach. Pratika’s style is about taking singles and doubles, finding the gaps, and hitting boundaries in between. That’s how she builds her innings,” explained Pradeep.
‘ONLY INDIA CAN BEAT AUSTRALIA’
As Pratika guided India into the semi-finals of the Women’s World Cup, Pradeep acknowledged the formidable challenge ahead as India prepare to face either Australia or South Africa for a place in the final. Nevertheless, he remains confident that the Women in Blue have what it takes to overcome the reigning champions.
“That’s going to be a huge match. But I’ll tell you one thing — India is the only team in the world that can beat Australia. No other team can really challenge them the way India can. If anyone can defeat them in the semi-finals or finals, it’s India,” said Pradeep with conviction.
As Pratika’s international career continues to blossom, her father holds lofty ambitions for her future, hoping she will one day be remembered among the greats of the game.
“For me, my idols have always been Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara. I want her to build milestones like them — centuries, runs, records — and have her name remembered among the legends of cricket,” he said.
For Pratika, however, the journey is only just beginning. With youth on her side and an insatiable hunger to learn, the 25-year-old has all the makings of a modern-day great. As the Women in Blue march towards attaining World Cup glory on home soil with renewed confidence, one thing is certain — if Pratika Rawal continues to bat with the same grace, maturity, and determination, Indian cricket may well have found its next long-term star at the top of the order.
– Ends
