There’s the solid defence akin to withstanding a barrage of daunting force. The footwork is undoubtedly strong; the feet rock back when the ball turns going waywardly. And both are in addition to a calm
temperament that points to the ideal modern day cricketer that can adjust to the changing demands of the game. It’s like you hold an end when the going gets tough and also accelerate during your opposition’s loose patches. Batting looks a graceful and compelling art form when Pratika Rawal demonstrates all of the above. And that’s what she just recently did when she struck an unbeaten century, an exact statistical output of 100 not out against Zimbabwe women at Vadodara.
After her colleagues- Shree Charani and Kranti Gaud- made the going tough for their Zimbabwean counterparts, one of India’s most technically correct batters stepped in to take charge of the run chase. It wasn’t a scary ask, anyhow. Nevertheless, making lightwork of an already timid looking ask- Zimbabwe asked India to score 198- too is a skill.
It was something that Rawal, who studied Psychology from the famed Delhi University, managed with about the same ease as one sensing the dopamine kick when gorging on Bengali Market’s famous Chole Bhature or sipping the best cold coffee during a restless June afternoon at Janpath.
Also Read | Bhuvneshwar Kumar dismisses Daryl Mitchell in second T20I to record first international wicket in 1434 days
Her century came off just 96 deliveries and featured 15 boundaries. Rather importantly, the 26-year-old kept up the charge for India despite losing an attacking looking captain Smriti Mandhana who fell not before a fluent 32.
But by that time, India were going at roughly six an over cruising like a serene voyager on the Nile. Greater monuments are perhaps chasing Pratika Rawal, who’s already nearing 1,500 ODI runs from just 27 innings in the format.
However, what was most compelling about this recent century that led to India steamrolling an opponent that can certainly play way better was the timing of the milestone. It is already Rawal’s third century in ODI’s, which is in addition to the 8 fifties she’s hit in her still-nascent career.
More importantly, her winning knock came at the back of promising starts in recent T20Is where despite beginning well, she couldn’t really put on a real score of sorts.
For someone who demonstrates a sort of calmness that’s well beyond her experience having arrived in an Indian jersey just two years ago, the right hander is here to stay. And hopefully slay anyone coming to challenge her sparkling Indian women’s cricket team!
Greater challenges may certainly lie ahead when she’ll be challenged more often by the likes of Sutherland, Perry, Ismail, Kapp, Hayley among the others, but there’s a serious stat that should worry those hoping to corner India’s tenacious force up the order.
Pratika Rawal already has a batting average of north of 51. What may lie ahead could be a serious burst of runs or runs galore, not that it would be a delightful sight for anyone rushing in to curb her India women’s team. Isn’t it?
