In a major setback for Team India, in-form opener Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the remainder of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 due to an ankle injury. The unfortunate incident occurred during India's final group stage match against Bangladesh at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday. Rawal twisted her ankle while fielding near the boundary ropes in the 21st over, trying to prevent a boundary. She was immediately assisted off the field by the medical staff and did not return to the match.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) confirmed the news on Monday, stating that Shafali Verma has been named as Rawal's replacement in the squad. Rawal's absence is a significant blow to India's chances in the tournament, especially ahead of their crucial semi-final clash against defending champions Australia on Thursday, October 30, in Navi Mumbai.
Rawal has been a consistent performer for India in the World Cup, emerging as the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 308 runs in seven matches, averaging 51.33 with a strike rate of 77.77. She formed a formidable opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, including a 212-run stand against New Zealand. Her contributions at the top of the order will be sorely missed.
"India's opening batter Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the ongoing ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 following an ankle injury that she sustained while fielding near the ropes, trying to prevent a boundary on the last ball of the 21st over," the ICC stated in an official release. "India have named Shafali Verma as her replacement with a big semi-final matchup scheduled against defending champions Australia on Thursday, 30 October," the statement added.
In Rawal's absence, Amanjot Kaur opened the batting alongside Smriti Mandhana in the match against Bangladesh. The game was eventually washed out due to rain, with both teams sharing a point. India finished the group stage in fourth place with seven points, while Australia topped the table with 13 points.
Shafali Verma's inclusion in the squad brings a spark of aggression and dynamism to the top order. The 21-year-old had been out of the ODI setup for over a year but has been in excellent form recently. She showcased her talent in the T20I series against England and also scored a half-century for India A during their tour of Australia. Verma has also been in superb domestic form, scoring 527 runs in the one-day format for Haryana at an average of 75.28. Although she hasn't played an ODI for India since October 2024, her recent performances suggest she is ready to take on the challenge.
While Shafali Verma is the official replacement, the Indian team might also consider Amanjot Kaur or Harleen Deol to partner Smriti Mandhana, depending on the team composition. The semi-final against Australia promises to be a test of India's depth and adaptability as they aim for a place in the World Cup final.
Rawal's injury is a significant setback, but the inclusion of Shafali Verma provides a new dimension to India's batting lineup. The team will need to regroup quickly and adjust their strategies to overcome the loss of their star opener as they face a formidable Australian side in the semi-finals.
