The Indian Women’s team has confirmed that Pratika Rawal will be replaced in the squad ahead of the crucial semifinal against Australia. The Women in Blue are set to face the defending champions in this all-important clash on Thursday, October 30.
Explosive opener Shafali Verma has been called up as Pratika Rawal’s replacement. Shafali has been away from the ODI setup since October 2024 but has recently shown good form. During India’s final league stage match against Bangladesh, Pratika sustained a severe injury while fielding.
The incident occurred when Pratika ran in to field the ball but got ahead of it. In an attempt to turn backwards, she twisted her ankle and fell to the ground. A stretcher was brought onto the field to help her off immediately. Though the BCCI Medical team closely monitored her injury, she has now been officially ruled out of the semifinal.
Shafali Verma made a strong comeback after being left out of the World Cup squad. In a recent warm-up game for India A against New Zealand, she smashed a brilliant 70 off 49 balls. Despite Pratika’s excellent form, Shafali coming in for the big clash against Australia could be a blessing in disguise for India, who will surely welcome some extra firepower at the top of the order.
If Shafali walks into the playing XI, she will be eager to make the most of the opportunity. So far, she has represented India in 29 ODIs and 90 T20Is, and her experience could prove valuable for the hosts in a high-stakes match.
### Will Pratika Rawal’s Blow Affect India?
Pratika Rawal was in sensational form for the Women in Blue throughout the ongoing World Cup. She amassed 308 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 51.33, including a century and a half-century. Notably, she scored 122 runs off 134 balls against New Zealand, featuring 13 boundaries and two sixes.
Since making her ODI debut in December 2024, Pratika has played 24 matches. In 23 innings, she has accumulated 1,110 runs at an average of 50.45, with two hundreds and seven half-centuries to her name.
While the prospect of having an explosive batter like Shafali Verma is exciting, it is important to note that she has not played an ODI in over a year. Losing an in-form player like Pratika Rawal could be a significant setback for India in such a critical semifinal against Australia.
As the match approaches, all eyes will be on how India adapts to this unexpected change and whether Shafali can rise to the occasion in place of Pratika.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/news-india-confirm-pratika-rawal-s-replacement-squad-ahead-aus-vs-ind-women-s-world-cup-2025-semifinal
