A significant setback has hit the Indian women's cricket team just days before their historic Test match against England, scheduled to commence on July 10 at Lord's. Young opening batter Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the contest due to an injury. This upcoming match holds immense significance in the cricketing calendar, as it marks the first time a women's Test match will be hosted at the iconic Lord's venue. Rawal, who was gearing up for the second Test appearance of her career, will now miss the opportunity due to her fitness issues.
Coach Confirms Replacement
Amol Muzumdar, the head coach of the Indian women's team, officially confirmed on July 8 that Pratika Rawal would be unavailable for the one-off Test. In her stead, the team management has drafted in experienced campaigner Priya Punia. The high-profile fixture between India and England is set to take place at Lord's from July 10 to July 13.
Rawal had made her Test debut earlier this year in March against Australia at the WACA ground in Perth. Notably, she had missed out on selection for the recently concluded Women's T20 World Cup and has yet to make her T20I debut. Despite this, after participating in two of the three ODI matches for India-A during the tour of England, there were strong expectations that she would feature at Lord's.
Injury Sustained During ODI World Cup
Pratika Rawal's struggle with fitness began during the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup. Although she displayed brilliant batting form throughout the tournament, she suffered a severe injury to her ankle and knee during a group stage encounter against Bangladesh, forcing her to withdraw from the remainder of the competition. India eventually went on to win the World Cup title, with Rawal contributing significantly by scoring 308 runs in 6 innings, finishing as India's second-highest run-getter in the tournament. The recurring effects of this injury also sidelined her for the Women's Premier League and the entire domestic season.
Priya Punia, who has been brought in as the replacement, recently demonstrated fine form during India-A's ODI series against England-A. She played a pivotal role in India-A's 2-1 series victory, scoring two half-centuries in the three-match series. Punia last represented the Indian senior side in an ODI back in December 2024. While she is yet to make her debut in the longest format of the game, her recent performance makes her a strong contender for a Test cap at Lord's.
