Who is Pratika Rawal? She’s on the lips of everyone today in the Indian cricket fraternity. A smart young determined athlete, without compromise, who seamlessly integrated academic achievement with the love of the sport.
Pratika Rawal, a psychology graduate from Jesus Mary College in Delhi, made headlines recently after her impressive ODI debut for India against the West Indies at the Kotambi Stadium on December 22, 2024. All this story of strength and determination starts in Prem Nagar, Delhi, where Pratika’s love for the game of cricket first found its meaning in the inspiration of her father, Pradeep Rawal, an umpire of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) certified.
Pratika’s first interaction with the game
Her father introduced her to the game when she was just 10, taking her to train under renowned coach Shravan Kumar at the Rohtak Road Gymkhana Cricket Academy. From Humble Beginnings to National Colours Pratika was the only girl ever to train at Shravan Kumar’s academy which had historically trained only boys.
Coach Kumar remembers her as a bright, active player. With practice, her innate ability and hard training eventually left her standing out. By the time she reached ninth grade, Modern School, Barakhamba Road, approached her to join its cricket team. At first, unwilling, Pratika was finally convinced school provided a promise to reimburse her former school fees.
This marked a turning point, giving her access to better resources to refine her game further. Academic Achievements and Sporting Milestones Juggling sports and schoolwork was not easy for Pratika. She scored a very good grade (92.5% in her CBSE exam, and achieved the highest mark in psychology and economics. At the same time, she continued to make her mark in cricket and even basketball, winning a gold medal in the 64th School National Games in 2019.
Who is Pratika Rawal and how did her cricket career begin?
Her cricketing career happened to blossom by her great deeds for the Delhi age-group teams of cricket. She grabbed the nation’s eye in 2021 when she smashed 161 off 155 in a List A encounter. For years she has been reliable, making over 500 runs in consecutive domestic seasons. A Rising Star with a Bright Future Pratika’s recent move with the aid of Railways to the Senior Women’s One-Day Trophy is another step in the queue.
She closed the season as the second-best run-scorer with 411 runs at an average of 68.50 (runs/balls). Due to her ability to shift roles as an opener and/or a middle-order and batting, as well as her ability to cope well under pressure, both Dishant Yagnik and Dipti Dhyani have heaped praise on her. Coach Yagnik who optimized her hitting technique, remembers the breakthrough at off-side.
This shift transformed her into a more well-rounded player capable of hitting big shots across the field. What Lies Ahead? Pratika Rawal’s cricketing journey is just beginning. Therefore, based on its field performance, determination, and plasticity, it can be inferred that her career will have great promise in the future. As she takes her first steps in international cricket, Pratika’s story is an inspiration for aspiring cricketers across the country.
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