Pratika Rawal ruled out of the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 with inury

India opener Pratika Rawal has been ruled out for the remainder of the Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 after injuring her ankle during the team’s final league-stage match against Bangladesh on Sunday.

The injury occurred in the 21st over of Bangladesh’s innings at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai when Rawal twisted her ankle on a wet outfield while attempting to field the ball near the deep midwicket boundary.

Pratika Rawal had to be assisted off the field by medical staff and did not return for the rest of the match. She also did not open India’s innings, with Amanjot Kaur replacing her at the top of the order alongside Smriti Mandhana.

The match, a dead rubber, was eventually washed out.

Rawal’s absence will be a huge blow for India, who will be up against the odds against record seven-time Women’s ODI World Cup winners Australia in the semi-finals, also scheduled in Navi Mumbai on Thursday.

The right-handed opener has been one of the Indian women’s cricket team’s standout performers in the tournament, scoring 308 runs in six innings at an average of 51.33.

She is the second-highest run scorer in the 2025 Women’s Cricket World Cup, behind fellow opener Smriti Mandhana, who has scored 57 more having played one extra innings.

Earlier in the World Cup, Rawal struck 75 against Australia, albeit in a defeat. She also scored a match-winning 122 against New Zealand in India’s penultimate group game, which sealed a victory and consequently the Indian team’s entry into the semi-finals.

The same match saw the 25-year-old Indian opener become the joint-fastest to 1000 runs in women’s ODI cricket, equalling Lindsay Reeler’s record of 23 innings set in 1988.

Rawal and Mandhana’s opening stands have been the driving force behind India’s World Cup campaign this term.

The two have been responsible for two century stands already, including a 212 against the White Ferns which is the highest partnership for any wicket in the tournament.

Rawal, who bowls right-arm offbreak, has also picked up two wickets in the tournament.

Amanjot Kaur, Harleen Deol, Uma Chetry and Jemimah Rodrigues are the immediate opening alternatives within the Indian squad. Among the reserves, Tejal Hasabnis is the only specialist batter.

India are also waiting on a fitness update for wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh, who missed the Bangladesh fixture after a finger injury sustained against New Zealand. Backup keeper Uma Chetry made her debut in her absence.

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