Replaced by Shafali Verma Ahead of Australia Semi-Final
Mumbai (ATP): India’s star opening batter, Pratika Rawal, has been ruled out of the ongoing ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 after sustaining an ankle injury in the final group-stage game against Bangladesh.
According to reports, Rawal injured her ankle while fielding near the ropes attempting to save a boundary on the last ball of the 21st over in the game in Navi Mumbai. She was immediately taken off the field and was unavailable to bat, with Amanjot Kaur opening the batting in the rain-affected chase.
The team has named explosive batter Shafali Verma as her official replacement. The change comes just ahead of a crucial semi-final clash against defending champions Australia on Thursday, October 30.
Rawal’s exit is a major blow to the host nation. The 25-year-old was the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament, having amassed 308 runs across six innings at an impressive average of 51.33. Her tally is bettered only by her opening partner, Smriti Mandhana (365 runs). Rawal’s form was instrumental in sealing India’s semi-final spot, highlighted by a century in the penultimate group-stage game against New Zealand.
The replacement, 21-year-old Verma, has not played the 50-over format for the senior team in a year, though she recently returned to form, becoming the second-highest run-getter in the T20I series against England and registering a fifty with the India A squad in Australia.
