The Ministry of Railways has rewarded injured batsman Pratika Rawal with a promotion following her heroics in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025. Pratika, who formed a steady opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana throughout the tournament, broke the news on Monday, December 1. She also shared her promotion letter stating that she has been promoted to the position of Special Duty Officer.
An elated Rawal thanked the Ministry of Railways for recognizing its efforts in the World Cup. She said that her employers have always been very supportive of her ambitions and commitments and that this support has played an important role in her career growth.
“The approval of the Ministry of Railways is hereby communicated for the grant of out-of-order promotion to Mrs. Pratica Rawal, Chief Clerk, Northern Railway, to the post of Officer on Special Duty (Sports) in Group B at Level 8 in the Pay Matrix (7th CPC) in recognition of her performance in the ICC Women’s Railway One-Day2025 World Railway Cup letter.
“Accordingly, Northern Railway may take immediate necessary steps to promote Ms. Pratika Rawal, Senior Clerk, to the post of Group B Gazetted OSD (Sports) by utilizing the Sports element or any other Group B post in Northern Railway,” he added.
Pratika hit one fifty and one hundred during India’s World Cup campaign. She started every game and added crucial runs at the top of the order. Rawal was criticized for failing to turn the batting around early in the tournament, but she silenced her critics with an exceptional 122 against New Zealand, a knock that effectively sealed India’s progress to the semi-finals.
After playing her career-best innings, Pratika was injured while fielding in India’s final group stage match, an incident that unfortunately ruled her out of the rest of the World Cup.
Pratika replaced Shafali Verma for the last two matches of the tournament. The forced change ended in India’s favor as Shafali won the Man of the Match award in the final against South Africa.
Pratika was present at the Navi Mumbai Stadium to cheer for the team. Even though she was in a wheelchair, she continued to support the side with full enthusiasm and did not let her injury stop her from celebrating India’s first World Cup win.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
December 1, 2025
