India face a major selection dilemma ahead of their 2025 Women’s World Cup semi-final against Australia, with opening batsman Pratika Rawal ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to injury. The failure sparked discussions between former players Mithali Raj and Veda Krishnamurthy, who shared their thoughts on how India should approach the crucial decision of replacement.
Rawal suffered the injury during Bangladesh’s 21st innings, she twisted her leg clumsily on a damp pitch chasing the ball to the boundary. Although she tried to walk away with help, a medical scan later confirmed that she would not recover in time for the semi-finals. Her absence is a huge blow for India. She is currently the team’s second highest run scorer with 308 runs, behind only Smriti Mandhana’s 331.
Speaking about JioHotstar, Krishnamurthy questioned India’s policy of rotating and scheduling leadership before the knockout stages. She pointed out that India lacked a spare special batsman in the team. “The concern is Pratika’s fitness. Can India bring in a replacement from outside if needed? Because there is no special batter in the dugout right now,” she said. Krishnamurthy also suggested that Amanjot Kaur should return to the XI in place of Harleen Deol, citing her poor form with the bat.
Meanwhile, Mithali Raj weighed in on India’s opening combination for the semi-finals, suggesting that Harleen could be promoted to start alongside Smriti Mandhan if Rawal does not recover. “The first option could be the promotion of number three, Harleen, as she is comfortable with the new ball. The second could be Uma Chetry, but her place depends on the return of Richa Ghosh as wicketkeeper,” explained Mithali.
Reports also suggested that Shafali Verma could be considered as a replacement, given her experience and attacking ability at the top. However, bringing her back for a high-pressure knockout game could prove risky given her recent lack of game time.
With limited batting depth and Rawal’s injury Left with a gaping hole at the top, India’s management faces a critical challenge before they take on Australia, a decision that could define their World Cup campaign.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
October 27, 2025
