India opener Pratika Rawal set for County Cricket debut, joins Warwickshire for One-Day Cup | Cricket News
India batter Pratika Rawal has signed with Warwickshire Women for the remainder of the 2026 domestic season, with the 25-year-old set to strengthen the county side’s batting line-up in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Rawal will be available for selection from Warwickshire’s next One-Day Cup fixture on August 19, as the Bears continue their push for a place in the tournament’s eliminators.
Return after injury
The move marks Rawal’s return to competitive cricket after recovering from a knee injury that ruled her out of India’s one-off Test against England at Lord’s. She suffered the injury during an India A match in Taunton on July 1, requiring stitches and forcing her to miss the landmark Test.Warwickshire currently occupy fifth place in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup standings and are aiming to finish inside the top three to qualify for the knockout stage. The club believes Rawal’s arrival will provide added firepower at the top of the order during the closing stages of the competition.Welcoming the India opener, the club said her addition would strengthen the squad as they look to finish the season strongly.“It’s a great signing for the team, and we are most pleased to be able to welcome Pratika to Edgbaston. Our position in the One Day Cup table at the moment is a good one, and bringing in a player of Pratika’s calibre can only serve to strengthen our team as we aim to end the season on a positive note,” the club said in a statement.Rawal said she is eager to experience county cricket and is looking forward to representing Warwickshire at one of England’s most iconic venues.“I am most pleased to be joining Warwickshire; I have heard many positive things about the club and am excited to get going and do all I can to assist the team. Testing myself by playing in England will be a great experience for me, and I’m also looking forward to walking out at Edgbaston, which is such an iconic ground in world cricket,” she said.
A rapid rise in international cricket
Rawal has emerged as one of India’s brightest batting talents since making her international debut in December 2024. She holds the record as the fastest woman to reach 500 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just eight innings. The opener also played a key role in India’s successful Women’s ODI World Cup campaign, scoring 308 runs, including a century against New Zealand, to help the team lift the title in 2025.
