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Pratika Rawal, the 24-year-old emerging Indian batting sensation, delivered yet another standout performance to enter an exclusive club in women’s ODI cricket.
Joining the stalwarts like Ellyse Perry and Mithali Raj
During the second ODI of the ongoing Women’s ODI tri-nation series against South Africa, held at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on April 29, Rawal recorded her fifth consecutive 50-plus score, becoming only the second Indian after the legendary Mithali Raj to do so. This remarkable achievement not only highlights Rawal’s talent and consistency but also marks a significant milestone early in her career, putting her name alongside global icons of the game like Ellyse Perry and Charlotte Edwards.
With this feat, Pratika has now entered a highly exclusive circle of batters who have scored five or more consecutive 50-plus scores in Women’s ODIs. The elite list includes:
- Mithali Raj – Seven consecutive fifties (2017) and another streak of five in 2021.
- Charlotte Edwards (England) – Two streaks of five consecutive fifties.
- Ellyse Perry (Australia) – Achieved this feat three times, the only woman cricketer to do so.
Rawal’s inclusion in this list not only places her among the legends of the game but also underlines her potential to be one of India’s leading batters for years to come.
A dream start to ODI career: Consistency at the core of Rawal’s game
Pratika’s entry into international cricket has been nothing short of spectacular. She made her ODI debut against the West Indies in December 2024, scoring a composed 40 runs. She followed it up with a fluent 76 in the second match of the series, announcing her arrival at the big stage. Her form skyrocketed in the January 2025 home series against Ireland, where she compiled scores of 89, 67 and a scintillating 154, cementing her position as a dependable top-order batter. Continuing her golden run, she struck an unbeaten 50 in the opening game of the tri-series against Sri Lanka on April 27.
Against South Africa, she once again demonstrated class and maturity beyond her years. Rawal reached her fifth consecutive fifty with a majestic six off Annerie Dercksen before finally being dismissed for 78 off 91 deliveries by left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba.
Also READ: Ellyse Perry switches state ahead of the 2025-26 WNCL season
Fastest Indian in Women’s ODIs: Rawal breaks another record with ease
Adding another feather to her cap, Rawal became the fastest Indian woman to reach 500 ODI runs, achieving the landmark in just eight innings. She broke the previous record held by England’s Charlotte Edwards, who took nine innings to cross the mark. Currently, Rawal has 572 runs at an astonishing average of 81.71 and a strike rate of 92.7, underlining not only her consistency but also her aggressive approach at the top of the order.
India opted to bat first under clear skies in Colombo, aiming to recover from a rain-affected match against Sri Lanka earlier in the series. Openers Rawal and Smriti Mandhana provided a steady start, negotiating the new ball with caution before shifting gears. Mandhana was dismissed for 36 by Dercksen, but Rawal held firm at the other end, mixing aggression with control. Her innings laid the groundwork for a strong Indian total, giving the likes of Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh a platform to target a score well beyond 280, a competitive total against a potent South African side.
