When India lifted their first-ever Women’s World Cup trophy, it was a moment of pure joy - fireworks, flags, tears of pride. Every player in that iconic final lineup was hailed as a national hero. And rightly so. But somewhere in that celebration, one name was quietly left out. Pratika Rawal.
She wasn’t in the final squad. She didn’t pose with the trophy. And worst of all, she didn’t get a medal. Why? Because ICC’s rule says only the 15 players in the final squad receive medals. Anyone replaced mid-tournament, regardless of their performance, gets nothing.
And that’s exactly what happened to Pratika. Replaced due to injury by Shafali Verma, she suddenly became invisible in the eyes of the system - despite being India’s second-highest run scorer in the tournament.
308 Runs, 6 Innings, and No Closure
Let’s be real. Rules are rules - but where’s the space for context?
Pratika Rawal played six matches and scored 308 runs at an average above 50. That included a stunning 122 in a do-or-die game against New Zealand - the kind of innings that flips tournaments. That knock alone kept India’s World Cup hopes alive.
For comparison, Smriti Mandhana finished as India’s top scorer with 434 runs - but from nine innings. If Pratika had remained fit for the remaining three games, who knows? She might’ve ended as the leading run-scorer, not just for India, but across the tournament.
The medal snub isn’t just about hardware - it’s about recognition. A moment she earned with the bat was taken away by technicality. The same happened with Hardik Pandya in the 2023 Men’s World Cup. He too was ruled out mid-way and denied a medal. But there’s a difference - Pratika didn’t just participate, she performed.
She changed the course of the tournament.
Not Everything Needs a Rulebook
It’s easy to say, “those are the rules.” But sometimes, following the rule blindly means failing the spirit of the game. Pratika Rawal didn’t ask for a favor - just acknowledgment of what she gave on the field.
A medal might not change her career, but it would’ve honored her impact. And that, ICC, should’ve been non-negotiable.
