Explained: Why India’s Second-Highest Run-Getter Pratika Rawal Did Not Receive World Cup Winners’ Medal
Background & Performance
Pratika Rawal, a young Indian opener, came into the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 having shown promise, and she delivered in a big way:
- She scored 308 runs in six innings, averaging 51.33, making her one of India’s top performers in the tournament. Olympics+3Free Press Journal+3Hindustan Times+3
- In particular, she played a pivotal role in a must-win group match against New Zealand Women where she scored 122 to lay the foundation for India’s progress. Hindustan Times+2Olympics+2
- Unfortunately, she sustained an ankle injury during the group stage (in the match vs Bangladesh Women) which ruled her out of the semi-final and final. Olympics+2Free Press Journal+2
India went on to lift the World Cup for the first time, a historic achievement for the team. Hindustan Times+1
Why She Did Not Receive a Winner’s Medal
Despite her strong contributions earlier in the tournament, Pratika Rawal did not receive the official winner’s medal. Here’s the detailed explanation:
- Tournament Squad Rules
The rules set by the governing body (International Cricket Council – ICC) stipulate that only the players who are officially part of the final 15-member squad at the point of the final, or whichever squad is named for the match/fixture, are eligible to receive medals. Free Press Journal+1 - Injury & Replacement
- Rawal’s ankle injury occurred during the group stage, meaning she was unavailable for the knockout rounds. Olympics+1
- A replacement player (in this case Shafali Verma) was brought into the squad for the semi-final and final. Since Rawal was no longer in the active 15-member squad at that point, she became ineligible for the medal under the existing rules. Free Press Journal+1
- Outcome
Thus, although Rawal had been part of the campaign and contributed significantly, purely from a rules standpoint she did not qualify for the medal because she was not in the final matchday squad list. Free Press Journal reports this explicitly: “ICC rules dictate that players part of the official 15-man squad are only eligible for medals. Pratika … was not a part of the squad for the finals and thus missed out on a medal.” Free Press Journal
Discussion & Implications
The situation raises some broader points about tournament regulations and fairness:
- Contribution vs. Formal Eligibility: Rawal’s case highlights a tension between actual contribution (she scored heavily, helped India reach the knockout rounds) and formal eligibility (the rules only reward those in the final squad). Many fans and commentators feel that contributions in earlier rounds also deserve recognition. Reddit+1
- Injury Replacement Rule: The rule about replacements is clear, but perhaps raises a question about whether injured players should be excluded from medals even if they play a key role in earlier stages. Some argue that there should be a more nuanced recognition mechanism.
- Team Acknowledgement & Gesture: While Rawal was not awarded the medal, the team made a public gesture: during the trophy ceremony, Rawal was brought onto the stage in a wheelchair by teammate Smriti Mandhana, indicating the team’s recognition of her role. mint
- Future Precedents: This may spark debate within cricket administration about whether medal-eligibility rules should be revisited for players who are injured but have substantially contributed.
Summary
In short: Pratika Rawal’s exclusion from the medal ceremony was not due to oversight of her contribution, but due to the specific rules of the tournament. Despite being one of India’s top run-getters, her injury and the subsequent replacement meant she was no longer in the registered final squad, which is the eligibility criterion for the medal. The team nevertheless publicly celebrated her part in the victory.
