India’s hopes of reaching another Women’s ODI World Cup final have taken a knock with Pratika Rawal ruled out of Thursday’s semi-final in Navi Mumbai. The opener twisted her left ankle during the rain-affected league match against Bangladesh and has not recovered in time.
The incident, harmless at first glance, came in the 21st over. Sharmin Akter slog-swept Deepti Sharma towards deep mid-wicket; Rawal sprinted, the turf gripped her boot, and she went down immediately, clutching the joint. A stretcher arrived but, typically stubborn, she limped off with the physio instead. She never returned to open, and Amanjot Kaur joined Smriti Mandhana for the shortened chase before more rain ended proceedings.
Rawal’s numbers underline what India will miss. Six innings, 308 runs at 51.33 and a steady strike-rate just under 78. A fluent 75 against Australia in Visakhapatnam set the tone early in the tournament, and her brilliant 122 versus New Zealand at Navi Mumbai pushed India into the knock-outs. That ton also made her the joint-fastest to 1,000 ODI runs in women’s cricket. Only Mandhana has scored more for India at this event.
Those two have been India’s engine room: stands of 155 against Australia and 212 against New Zealand sit inside the tournament’s top five partnerships. Removing one half of that pair is hardly ideal preparation for facing an Australian attack that rarely wastes new-ball overs.
Who partners Mandhana now? Amanjot is the straightforward option after a calm, unbeaten 15 last match, but head coach Amol Muzumdar may weigh other routes. Harleen Deol has opened in domestic cricket, Jemimah Rodrigues has done it sporadically in ODIs, and wicketkeeper Uma Chetry began both a warm-up fixture and three previous T20Is at the top. Reserve batter Tejal Hasabnis remains available, though calling her up mid-tournament would force a reshuffle India have so far avoided.
Medical staff will reassess Rawal closer to the final date—should India make it—but insiders admit that is “touch and go.” For now, attention turns to 30 October, same venue, a familiar foe, and a fresh selection puzzle India could have done without.
