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Pratika Rawal may not have played the final stages of the Women’s World Cup 2025, but her contribution to India’s historic triumph remains unforgettable. The 25-year-old batter finished as the team’s second-highest run-scorer despite missing the knockout games, yet she did not receive a winner’s medal due to ICC rules. Rawal’s World Cup campaign came to a heartbreaking halt after she injured her ankle during India’s group-stage clash against Bangladesh. Before that setback, she had scored 308 runs in six innings at an impressive average of 51.33, including several crucial knocks that helped India reach the semifinals. However, her injury forced the team management to bring in Shafali Verma as a replacement.Also Watch:
According to ICC regulations, medals are awarded only to players in the final 15-member squad. Since Rawal was replaced before the semifinal, she missed out on the winner’s medal, even though her runs were instrumental in setting up India’s title charge. Interestingly, the same situation occurred in the 2003 Men’s World Cup when Australia’s Jason Gillespie, despite taking eight wickets in four games, was replaced after an injury and did not receive a medal. On Sunday night, as India defeated South Africa by 52 runs at the DY Patil Stadium to lift their maiden Women’s ODI World Cup trophy, Rawal watched the scenes unfold from the sidelines. Sitting in her wheelchair, wrapped in the Indian flag, she could not hold back her tears. “I can’t even express it. There are no words. This flag on my shoulder means so much. To be here with my team — it’s surreal. Injuries are part of the game, but I’m just so happy I could still be part of this team. I love this team. I can’t express what I feel — we actually did it! We’re the first Indian team to win the World Cup in so long. The whole of India deserves this,” she said emotionally. For Rawal, the moment was bittersweet. She could not take the field in the final, but as Shafali Verma’s blistering 87 guided India to victory, she celebrated every boundary and wicket with the same passion as her teammates. “Honestly, it was harder to watch than to play. Every wicket, every boundary — it gave me goosebumps. The energy, the crowd, the emotion — it was incredible,” she said. Her story stands as a reminder that sometimes heroes of a championship do not always stand on the podium, but their impact is deeply felt in every cheer, every run, and every dream fulfilled.
