A Solid Indian Opening Partnership
In cricket, a successful opening sets the tone for a game. If one of the openers is not doing well, the other needs to play as cover and counterattack. That is the Indian women's team opening pair. When pressure was on experienced player Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal replaced her confidently and sustained the momentum. Pratika's solid mental toughness stems from her father's influence and training.
Pratika's Rising Form
Smriti Mandhana has been Indian women's cricket's star all along, famous for her free-flowing batting and match-winning knock. The current World Cup has brought into focus another name—Pratika Rawal.
She has made more than 30 runs in each match, barring one. While Smriti took a while to get settled at the crease, Pratika played with abandon and attacked the rival bowlers. This approach eased out the pressure from Smriti during the early matches.
Pratika's timing and composure set her apart. She discovers openings with ease and places the ball on the boundary with relative ease. At just 25 years of age, with less than a year of playing internationally under her belt, she plays with remarkable composure. Cricket pundits attribute this to the fact that she studied psychology and scored 75% in her degree. This training enables her to study opponents' body language and adapt strategy in the course of the match.
Guided by Her Father's Mentorship
Pratika's father, Pradeep Rawal, is a retired cricketer and umpire today. Even though he never played for India, he played an important part in developing his daughter's career. A hard hitter and a medium pacer in his university days, Pradeep mentored Pratika tightly and sharpened her technical and mental abilities.
She began her career on a low note with her first game in December last year, when the performance was less than expected. But soon she picked up speed. Now she is known as one of India's consistent openers. Her psychology degree helped her overcome pressure and know about her own game and also the opponent's psychology.
In the match against New Zealand, Pratika performed well with both bat and ball, showing signs of becoming an all-rounder in the future. During that game, fans chanted her name at the Navi Mumbai ground, and her father, Pradeep, said he felt emotional and proud.
Early Start and Steady Growth
Pradeep introduced Pratika to cricket when she was three years old. At nine, she enrolled in a local academy and scored a half-century against a university-level match. Pradeep narrated how older players used to appreciate her talent then and remarked that he always had the faith that she would go on to the international level.
Looking Ahead
With India hoping to lift its maiden Women's World Cup, the first-wicket partnership of Pratika Rawal and Smriti Mandhana has become as important as they come. While Smriti was given the Player of the Match award for the match against New Zealand, Pratika's effort was something to write home about. If she keeps delivering with the same intensity and self-belief, her stand can be the make-or-break factor behind India's dream of winning the trophy.
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