April 29, 2025: In a groundbreaking performance that has shaken the record books, Pratika Rawal has made history with her exceptional 78-run knock against South Africa, propelling her into the spotlight as one of the brightest stars in India’s women’s cricket team.
The young batter, in just her eighth ODI match, scored 78 runs off 91 balls, including seven boundaries and one six, leading India to a competitive total of 276/6. This impressive innings not only showcased her growing prowess but also cemented her place in the history of Women’s ODI cricket.
Rawal’s blazing start to her international career has been nothing short of spectacular. With this performance, she has now become the fastest batter in the history of Women’s ODIs to reach the milestone of 500 runs. Rawal surpassed the previous record, held by England’s Charlotte Edwards, who had achieved the feat in nine innings. Pratika reached the 500-run mark in just eight innings, a remarkable accomplishment for the 21-year-old.
Fastest Players to Score 500 Runs in Women’s ODIs:
- Pratika Rawal – 8 innings
- Charlotte Edwards – 9 innings
- Nicole Bolton – 11 innings
- Belinda Clark – 12 innings
- Wendy Watson – 12 innings
Rawal’s blistering start to her ODI career extends beyond just scoring runs. In her first six innings, she has accumulated 444 runs, becoming the first cricketer (male or female) to surpass 400 runs in their initial six innings in Women’s ODI cricket. The previous highest aggregate for runs after six innings in this format was held by Netherlands’ Tom Cooper, with 392 runs, while the record for the most runs after the first six innings by a woman cricketer was held by Thailand’s Natthakan Chantham with 322 runs.
Record-Breaking Performances:
Pratika Rawal’s remarkable consistency and ability to break records doesn’t stop there. She also holds the distinction of scoring the third-highest individual innings by an Indian woman in Women’s One Day Internationals, a milestone that speaks volumes about her raw talent and ability to perform on the big stage.
As her career continues to flourish, Rawal’s journey is becoming an inspiration to young cricketers everywhere. She’s not just breaking records — she’s setting the bar for the next generation of players.
India’s cricketing future looks incredibly bright with talent like Pratika Rawal leading the charge. The cricketing world will be watching closely as this young star continues to rise and rewrite the record books.