Who is Pratika Rawal? Rising Star Eyes Women's ODI Record, Nears Gujarat Titans Captain Shubman Gill’s India Milestone

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Who is Pratika Rawal? That's a question you’re about to hear a lot. And if you're still asking it, you're already a few steps behind. “Ajeeb daastan hai yeh, kahaan shuru kahaan khatam…” may be a Lata Mangeshkar classic, but it hits different when you look at Rawal's cricket journey; just getting started, but already rewriting the script.

The 24-year-old is on the brink of making history in Women’s ODIs. With 494 runs in just seven innings, she’s inches away from smashing through the 500-run mark faster than any Indian ever.

Who is Pratika Rawal? The Record-Breaking Star in the Making

Pratika Rawal is knocking on the door of cricket history. The Delhi-born batter is just six runs away from becoming the fastest to reach 500 runs in Women’s ODIs. The current record is held by former England batter Charlotte Edwards, who got there in 9 innings. If Pratika crosses that milestone in her next match, she’ll surpass some of the greatest names in the game: Nicole Bolton, Belinda Clark, Wendy Watson, and even India’s own Mithali Raj, who achieved the feat in 13 innings.

But Rawal isn’t just rewriting women’s records. She’s about to outpace Shubman Gill too. Gill reached the 500-run mark in ODIs in 10 innings back in 2022. If Pratika does it in eight, she’ll become the fastest Indian - across both men’s and women’s cricket - to reach that milestone. That’s not just progress. That’s dominance.

From Maiden Century to Match Winner: Pratika Rawal Keeps Shining

On April 27, during a tri-series clash against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Pratika scored a calm, composed, unbeaten 50 off 62 balls. Her knock, which featured seven boundaries, helped India chase down a modest 148 with ease. She stitched a solid 54-run opening stand with Smriti Mandhana and followed it up with a 95-run partnership that sealed the win. The Player of the Match award was just the cherry on top.

Talking about her approach, Pratika said (via India Today):

"It's years of hard work that's coming into place now. I'm very lucky, very fortunate I got this opportunity. I'm just trying to play on the merit of the ball, nothing more goes into my mind.”

Before that, she had smashed a historic 154 against Ireland in Rajkot in January—her maiden international ton. That knock came in just her sixth ODI and helped India post their highest-ever total in the format; 435 for five. Her partnership of 233 runs with Mandhana was as ruthless as it gets.

Where It All Began: Rawal's Journey from School Basketball to Cricket Stardom

Born on September 1, 2000, in Delhi, Pratika Rawal isn’t new to competitive sport. She played basketball for Bal Bharati School and even won gold at the 64th School National Games in 2019. But cricket had her heart.

She trained at Rohtak Road Gymkhana Cricket Academy under Sharvan Kumar, and her father, Pradeep Rawal, is a BCCI-certified Level-II umpire with DDCA. That deep-rooted connection to the game clearly played a role in shaping her future.

She made her India debut during the home series against the West Indies, scoring 40 and picking up a wicket—Hailey Matthews, no less. Since replacing Shafali Verma as Mandhana’s opening partner, she hasn’t looked back.

Brains and Batting: When Psychology Meets Cricket

Pratika’s not just physically sharp—she’s mentally tuned in too. She has a deep interest in psychology, which she credits for improving her game. In a BCCI video titled 'Pratika Rawal: Psychology meets Cricket’, she said:

"I wanted to study about that (human mind) and when I started studying about it, I was very keen on understanding how we mentally process (things) on the field and off the field. And, it has helped me a lot in cricket as well."

It’s rare to see such balance between skill, mindset, and self-awareness in someone so early in their international career.

From basketball courts in Delhi to cricket stadiums around the world, Pratika Rawal is writing her own story... page by page, run by run. With every match, she’s not just chasing records; she’s building her legacy. And if you’re not watching her yet, it’s time to start. She’s here, she’s loud, and she’s batting like a dream.