Pratika Rawal impressed on T20I debut but failed to capitalize on a good start

Pratika Rawal scored a brisk 22 off 18 balls on her T20I debut against Thailand in the Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday, August 30, but failed to convert a promising start into a crucial innings.

Rawal was handed her T20I debut after Jemimah Rodrigues was ruled out with an injurywith the youngster joining the party amid criticism surrounding her selection. She came into bat in the powerplay after Smriti Mandhana had run out 19 and quickly showed why India backed her in the tournament.

India vs Thailand Women’s World Cup T20 Update

The right-hander joined Shafali Verma at the crease with the pair putting together a 53-run partnership for the second wicket to give India momentum in the early stages of the innings. While Shafali brought her signature aggressiveness, Rawal looked increasingly confident before being dismissed by reject Suleeporn Laomi.

PRACTICE SHOWS INTENT WITH A FEARLESS DISPLAY

Rawal didn’t seem taken aback by the opportunity. Opening her boundary account with a six, she went inside-out against Sunida Chaturongrattan to smash a long-on boundary with ease. She followed that up with a four later in the over, hitting a short and wide delivery over the off-side.

The debutant continued to use her legs effectively against the Thai spinners, charging down the track to hit Kamchomphu down the ground for another boundary. She also produced a well-timed strike offside, highlighting her ability to find gaps rather than relying solely on strength.

However, her shift ended just as she seemed able to push on. In the ninth over, Suleeporn Laomi kept the ball on the stumps and it stayed low. Rawal backpedaled and tried to play towards the offside but missed completely, with the shot sneaking under her bat to disturb the stumps.

It was a knock that didn’t quite reflect the promise of her stay at the crease, but her approach offered India an encouraging glimpse of what she could bring to the T20I setup.

It remains to be seen whether India will play her in their second match against Hong Kong on September 3. With Jemimah’s return yet to come, Rawal will know that converting such starts can be crucial if he is to cement his place in India’s T20I plans.

– The end

Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

30 Aug 2026 21:21 IST