Uttarakhand all-rounder Prema Rawat scripted cricket history on 4 November 2026 in Pune, smashing the fastest half-century in women's T20 cricket — off just 14 balls — during the Senior Women's T20 Trophy match against Hyderabad. The innings, built on six fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 357, helped Uttarakhand post 187/2 and eventually win by 89 runs, restricting Hyderabad to 98/8.

The Record-Breaking Innings

Prema walked in at number four in the 18th over, with Uttarakhand placed at 129/2. The immediate goal, she said, was simply to push the total past 150. What followed was a batting exhibition featuring reverse hits, lofted drives, and wristy flicks. She hit Sakshi Rao for three boundaries in succession, plundered 18 runs off a single over from Vanka Pooja, and finished the innings with 6, 4, 4, 6 off the last four deliveries from Kunchala Niteesha.

The 14-ball fifty eclipses the previous women's T20 record of 15 balls, a mark shared by Marie Kelly (Warwickshire, 2022), Fatima Sana (Pakistan, 2026), and Laura Harris, who achieved it twice — for Otago in 2025 and Surrey in 2026. Crucially, neither Prema nor her teammates knew about the record until match referee Niyati Koustubh Lokur announced it at the post-match presentation.

'At the presentation ceremony, the referee came and gave the Player of the Match award and told me that it was a world record to get a fifty in 14 balls. That's how all team members and coaches came to know that it was a world record. I felt normal on hearing that. But yes, I felt good that it was a world record,' Prema said.

The Mindset Behind the Carnage

Prema was emphatic that there was no grand blueprint. 'The plan was simple — I wanted to play according to the situation. I knew that when I went, there were a few overs left. So, I wanted to score as many runs as possible for the team. I wasn't thinking about a big score or a record. I was just focussing on every ball and trying to give my best to the team.'

The boundaries, however, were anything but accidental. 'It was completely pre-planned. I was just analysing which bowler I should take on or against which bowler I should play in a certain way and against which bowler, where I can score boundaries in better areas. When I felt confident, I decided to play my natural game and take the chances,' she explained.

Prema was quick to credit opening batter Raghvi Bist, who made an unbeaten 72 off 50 balls. 'I would like to thank Raghvi for my knock, as because of her innings, I was able to score such a big score and make a world record. So, really, really thankful to Raghvi as well.'

All-Round Contribution and Team Win

The record innings was only half the story. After the batting powerplay, Prema switched to her leg-spin and removed G. Kavyasree and N. Kranthi Reddy to finish with figures of 2 for 12, capping a stunning all-round display. 'Just staying in the present. I batted once and forgot about it as I knew I had to bowl because the team needed my bowling,' she said.

The victory margin of 89 runs underlined Uttarakhand's dominance across all departments. Prema celebrated the milestone with a trip to watch Rajinikanth's Tamil film Jailer 2 — 'a treat to herself,' as she confirmed with a smile.

India Career and Rising Profile

2026 has been a transformational year for Prema. She made her India T20I debut in June 2026 during the T20 World Cup against South Africa in Manchester, having been drafted in as a replacement for the injured Shreyanka Patil. She now has seven wickets in seven T20I appearances. Her standout performance in India colours came in the Asia Cup group stage against Pakistan in Dubai, where she took 3 for 9.

'That experience was very special for me because everyone wants to play international cricket. That too, if you perform so well against Pakistan, as playing against Pakistan is always a big occasion,' she said. Prema also pointed to her consistent role in the India A set-up — including the Rising Stars Women's Asia Cup title in Thailand — as the real launching pad for her confidence.

A two-time Women's Premier League (WPL) title winner with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 and 2026, Prema has been retained by RCB for the 2027 season. She has taken three wickets in six WPL games. Her bond with India's leading T20 spinner N Sree Charani — whom she calls 'the number one T20 bowler in the world' — has also been a source of on-field chemistry and off-field support.

Roots, Family, and What Comes Next

Prema, who chose cricket over hockey in her formative years, credits former Uttarakhand coach Anagha Deshpande and the state's Women's Uttarakhand Premier League (UPL) as foundational to her development. 'Playing in the league helped me understand my game better and prepare me for the bigger opportunities,' she said. Back home, her family reacted with shock and pride — although gentle suggestions about a government job still surface occasionally, as she acknowledged with characteristic warmth.

With the domestic T20 season still in progress and an India recall within touching distance, Prema's approach is unchanged: stay present, trust the process, and let the records take care of themselves.