“I Have My Own Medal Now”: Pratika Rawal’s Journey of Grit and Glory

Pratika Rawal missed the semifinal and final of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 due to a severe injury. The young batter was quite disappointed when this incident occurred, however, the glory of India turned her tears into smiles. When she heard that Shafali Verma would be taking her place as a specialist batter in the knockout games, she became highly optimistic. Pratika knew how capable Shafali was, and the result of the final justified her trust as well.

When India won the Women’s World Cup at DY Patil Stadium, the whole team rallied around Pratika Rawal, who remained an important part of the squad throughout the tournament. The injured Pratika stood up from the wheelchair and celebrated the victory with her teammates jubilantly. It was a moment she had waited for years, so the celebration had to be special.

The young batter was ruled out of the tournament due to injury, but she still received a medal sent by ICC Chairman Jay Shah. This multiplied her happiness, because even after getting sidelined, she felt part of the squad that brought glory to India after a long period of time.

"I have my own medal now. One of the support staff had lent me theirs temporarily because mine hadn't reached on time. Jay [Shah, ICC chairman] sir has sent me a medal, someone told me. I was so happy but people made a big deal of it online, it will take some time but will come to me." said Pratika Rawal.

Speaking about Shafali Verma, Pratika said that she is a player who does not need motivation. She believes more in her skills while facing any type of challenge in the field. This is one of those qualities that make Shafali a very talented player who understands the requirements of international cricket quite well.

"Shafali doesn't need motivation. She plays with instinct and belief. Before the final, she came up to me and said, 'I'm really sorry you can't play,' and I told her it's fine, these things happen. I had a feeling she would do something special that day." said Pratika Rawal.

Addressing her own journey in the Women’s World Cup, Pratika said that accepting the injury reports was tough, but she still realized the complexity of the situation. It allowed her to focus more on those things that could speed up her recovery process.

“The first thing is to accept what's happened. You can't undo it. Once I accepted the injury, I focused only on what I could control - recovery, sleep, nutrition, and supporting the team. There was disappointment, yes, but no breakdown. My dad was there, my coach (Shravan Kumar) kept checking on me, my mom and brother called every day. I have such a good support system. They didn't let me spiral or feel alone,” said Pratika Rawal.

The young batter is feeling a bit better now. She has started doing little errands on her own, which suggests her recovery is moving along at a good pace. She is now looking forward to bat again after getting fully fit, as more opportunities are coming up in the near future.

“I'm feeling a lot better now. My X-ray is due in a few days, and I'm doing most things on my own. I've started light mobility work too. Once the doctors clear me, I'll start batting again. I'm very excited to return - I miss holding the bat,” said Pratika Rawal.

She then said that getting back to her best is the core objective now. To achieve that, she aims to return to the domestic circuit, where she is eager to perform at her full potential.

"My next target is to complete rehab properly and come back for the domestic season. I don't like rushing recovery. I'm a person who can bat all day and still not get tired - I want to get back to that zone." said Pratika Rawal.