Pratika Rawal misses Warwickshire One-Day Cup stint after Asia Cup call-up
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Top-order batter Pratika Rawal will no longer join Warwickshire for the remainder of the One-Day Cup in England after earning her maiden T20I call-up to the India women's squad for the ACC Women's Asia Cup. The 25-year-old was named as a replacement for Jemimah Rodrigues, who has been ruled out of both the Asia Cup and the Asian Games due to a high-grade right hamstring tear.
Why Pratika Was Called Up
The Amita Sharma-led Women's Selection Committee drafted Pratika into the squad after Rodrigues sustained a serious hamstring injury that has sidelined her from two major tournaments — the ACC Women's Asia Cup in the UAE and the Asian Games in Japan. Pratika, who was scheduled to arrive at Edgbaston on 19 August, will now skip the county engagement entirely.
Warwickshire React to the Setback
Warwickshire women's head coach Ali Maiden expressed disappointment at losing the batter but offered his full support. 'We were really looking forward to welcoming Pratika into our squad for the remainder of the season, and we're incredibly disappointed to lose her. That being said, we've still got a lot to play for in the remaining weeks of the season, and we're confident in the squad we have at our disposal. Playing for your country is the ultimate honour, and we wish Pratika well in the Asia Cup,' he said in a statement.
Pratika's Record and Background
Pratika is a member of India's 2025 Women's ODI World Cup-winning side and, while uncapped in T20Is, has appeared in 27 ODIs, amassing 1,189 runs. She also scored a fifty on her Test debut against Australia at Perth earlier this year, underlining her growing stature across formats. The Asia Cup call-up marks her first entry into India's T20I setup.
India's Asia Cup Schedule
India, captained by Harmanpreet Kaur, open their campaign against Thailand on 30 August at the Dubai International Stadium. They subsequently face Hong Kong and China on 3 September, before the high-profile clash against Pakistan on 5 September. The UAE is hosting the tournament for the first time. The semi-finals are scheduled for 10 and 11 September, with the final set for 13 September.
With Rodrigues sidelined and the T20I World Cup cycle gaining momentum, Pratika's performance in Dubai could shape India's batting blueprint for the format going forward.