Pratika Rawal Ruled Out of Women's World Cup 2025; Shafali Verma Named Replacement

India suffered a major blow ahead of their crucial Women's Cricket World Cup semifinal against Australia, with in-form opener Pratika Rawal being ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after sustaining a serious ankle injury during the league match against Bangladesh.

The Injury Incident

The incident occurred in the 21st over of Bangladesh's innings at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Sunday when Rawal twisted her right ankle while attempting to stop a boundary at deep midwicket. Her right foot got stuck in the turf on a rain-affected outfield, and she collapsed immediately, grimacing in pain. Medical staff rushed to her aid, and though a stretcher was brought out, she hobbled off the field with assistance from the physiotherapist and teammates.

Scans later revealed a hairline fracture to her right ankle. While surgery is not required at this stage, Rawal has been advised three weeks of rest and is currently using a moonboot for support. She will undergo further scans after the recovery period before beginning rehabilitation at the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

Impact on India's Campaign

Rawal's absence is a massive setback for India heading into Thursday's semifinal against defending champions Australia. The 25-year-old has been the second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 308 runs in six innings at an average of 51.33, including a match-winning century against New Zealand that helped India qualify for the knockout stage.

In that memorable knock, she also became the joint-fastest to 1,000 runs in women's ODIs. Her prolific opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana—who leads the tournament with 365 runs—has been the cornerstone of India's batting success. The duo registered seven century stands in just 23 innings, matching legendary pairs like Belinda Clark and Lisa Keightley.

Shafali Verma Returns

The ICC's Event Technical Committee approved hard-hitting opener Shafali Verma as Rawal's replacement. Verma, who was not part of India's original squad or reserves, last played an ODI a year ago. The 21-year-old has a modest ODI record with 644 runs in 29 matches at an average of 23 but brings explosive potential at the top of the order.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur had earlier expressed hope for Rawal's recovery, saying: "Our medical team will give an update on her. They are taking care of her, and hopefully, she will be back soon." However, with the diagnosis confirmed, India will now have to recalibrate their plans for the semifinal.

Moving Forward

In Rawal's absence during the Bangladesh match, seam-bowling all-rounder Amanjot Kaur was promoted to open alongside Mandhana and looked solid before rain forced the match to be abandoned. Whether India opts to continue with Amanjot or draft in Shafali straight into the playing XI remains to be seen. With the semifinal just days away, India will need to quickly find the right combination to challenge a formidable Australian side.