India opener Pratika Rawal struck an unbeaten 100 off 96 deliveries against Zimbabwe in the first women's ODI at the BCA Stadium, Kotambi, Vadodara on 24 October 2026, powering the reigning 50-over World Cup champions to a commanding nine-wicket victory in the series opener. Rawal credited clear preparation and a settled mindset for her fluent knock, describing it as one of those rare innings where bat and intent align seamlessly.

Rawal on Her Batting Rhythm

Speaking in a BCCI video after the match, Rawal explained that confidence at the crease stems from the simple sensation of timing the ball well. 'As a batter when you tap that bat, you feel confidence. Every day, obviously, is different but when you know that you're middling the ball well, your balls are going into those gaps, you're hitting the shots where you want to hit, so it becomes actually easier because you're not very clustered in your mind,' she said. She added that the mental clarity freed her from over-thinking, allowing her to bat instinctively.

A Special Anniversary and a Teammate's Push

The century carried an unplanned emotional significance. Rawal revealed she had no idea the match fell on the same calendar date as her very first ODI hundred — until coach Amol Muzumdar pointed it out in the dressing room just before the innings. Opening partner Smriti Mandhana then nudged her to recreate the feat. 'Smriti di said, 'Chalo aaj bhi karte hain phir'…let's just recreate it; it's the exact same number of runs,' Rawal recalled, calling it 'World Cup memories' and 'good memories' she was glad to revisit.

Conditions, Preparation and a Boundary-First Approach

Rawal also pointed to a flat track, favourable field placements by Zimbabwe, and strong net sessions as reasons behind her fluency. She said she had specifically worked on an aggressive, boundary-heavy approach in the lead-up to the series and executed it without letting the scoring rate weigh on her. 'It's basically how you prepare, and I wanted to play in that manner…I wanted to score a lot of boundaries,' she noted. The opening stand she shared with Mandhana, before the pair were eventually joined by Shafali Verma to complete the chase, underscored India's batting depth at the top.

High Praise for Spinner Sree Charani

Zimbabwe had been restricted to 197, largely through the efforts of spinner Sree Charani, who claimed four wickets on a surface offering little assistance to bowlers. Rawal was effusive in her assessment, describing Charani as 'a special player' with the potential to enter 'legend category' if she backs herself. 'On a wicket like this, where the ball isn't doing much, to be able to get those wickets to be able to break those partnerships…it's commendable. She has that calibre, it's just that she has to believe,' Rawal said.

Series Context and What's Next

The victory gives India a 1-0 lead in the three-match ODI series against Zimbabwe. With the top order firing and both bat and ball delivering, India will look to seal the series in the second game. The dominant win reinforces the World Cup holders' depth and form heading into future bilateral commitments.