Pratika Rawal: India’s Rising Star Who’s Redefining Opener Roles

In just under a year, Pratika Rawal has emerged as one of the most exciting talents in Indian women’s cricket. Known for her calm head, technical soundness, and capacity to deliver big innings, she is redefining what it means to be an opener in the 50-over format.

Early Life and Background of Pratika Rawal

Pratika Rawal was born on September 1, 2000, in Delhi. From a young age, she demonstrated a balance between academics and sports. She attended Modern School, Barakhamba Road, and garnered an impressive 92.5% in her 12th standard CBSE exams. She later completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Jesus & Mary College in New Delhi.

Her sporting interests weren’t limited to cricket; she played basketball at the school level and won gold at the 64th School National Games in Delhi while representing Bal Bharati School. Support in her cricket journey came from her father, Pradeep Rawal, a certified umpire with the BCCI and Delhi & District Cricket Association, and from early coaching at the Rohtak Road Gymkhana Cricket Academy.

Domestic Rise and Breakthrough

Pratika first made waves in the domestic circuit playing for Delhi from 2021 to early 2024. She posted big scores there, including an unbeaten 161 in a List-A match, and amassed strong averages, showcasing consistency across conditions.

In 2024, she made a switch to Railways in domestic cricket—an important move in India, given how established the Railways women’s team is. She used that platform to sharpen her skills and build her case for international selection.

International Debut & Early Records

Rawal made her One Day International debut for India in December 2024, during a series against the West Indies. She was the 150th woman to represent India in ODIs. From her first few matches, she impressed with strong contributions: meaningful opening partnerships, solid starts, and maturity beyond her experience.

Her most notable early milestone came in January 2025, when she scored 154 runs off 124 balls against Ireland. That innings marked her maiden ODI century, but far more than that, it showed her ability to pace an innings, convert starts into big scores, and handle pressure.

She also broke into record books by achieving the most runs by any woman batter in her first six ODI innings, surpassing a longstanding mark set by former England captain Charlotte Edwards. Such statistics are rare and suggest she isn’t just talented—she’s performing immediately at a high level.

Recent Performances & Landmark Matches

In a recent match against Australia, Rawal continued her improving form. She scored 64 runs off 96 balls in the first ODI in Mullanpur, helping India post a competitive total. She opened alongside Smriti Mandhana, and their 114-run first-wicket stand laid the foundation for a strong team total.

With that knock, Rawal also achieved another milestone: she became the player with the highest number of runs in ODIs for women after 15 games, surpassing former Australian captain Meg Lanning’s record. Rawal had accumulated 767 runs by that point, compared to Lanning’s 707 in her first 15 games.

Her recent series of fifties—alongside strong performances by other batters in the top order—helps signal that she is no flash in the pan but is building a consistent profile.

Style, Strengths & What Sets Pratika Rawal Apart

What distinguishes Rawal:

• Temperament: She has shown patience in early overs when the ball is new and conditions favor bowlers. She isn’t flustered by pressure and seems to build rather than panic.
• Technique and Shot Selection: Her footwork, especially against spin, is crisp. She blends defensive solidity with aggressive intent when the opportunity arises.
• Composure: Her psychology background is often cited in her interviews—she believes understanding mindset helps deal with nerves and decision-making under pressure.
• Partnerships: Her opening partnerships, especially with Smriti Mandhana, have become a pillar of India’s ODI strategy—strong starts give India platforms to build big totals.

Challenges and What Lies Ahead

No young talent’s rise is without hurdles. For Pratika Rawal, some of the things to watch are:

• Maintaining consistency across different formats and conditions, especially away from home.
• Not letting early success breed complacency. With expectations high, each innings now comes with scrutiny.
• Adapting to pressure in marquee tournaments like the World Cup, where teams also research and adjust to new players fast.
• Evolving in T20s: while she has already shown promise in List A and ODIs, translating that success more regularly into shorter formats will broaden her all-round credentials.

Significance in Indian Women’s Cricket

Rawal’s rise comes at a pivotal moment for Indian women’s cricket. The team is building depth beyond established names, and fresh openers who can build big totals are invaluable. As India prepares for major tournaments, having a dependable partner at the top of the order allows greater flexibility down the lineup and gives captains more strategic options.

Moreover, Rawal’s academic background, her rise from domestic circuits, and her record-breaking stats make her a role model for aspiring cricketers who must juggle multiple demands early in their careers.

Final Thoughts

Pratika Rawal has already done enough to mark herself as one of the most promising new faces in Indian women’s cricket. Her early ODI records, her ability to handle big moments, and her cool head under pressure suggest she is not merely keeping pace—she’s setting a new pace.

If she continues on her current trajectory, she could become not just a star opener for India, but one of the defining batters of her generation. As fans, the exciting thing is: we’re seeing the early chapters of what might be a very long, impactful career.