In between, Dr Vijay Datta, the Principal of Modern School in Barakhamba Road, Pratika\u2019s alma mater, gave her and Pradeep a lot of respect and recognition in a special morning assembly. Given the phenomenal start to her ODI career, the outpouring of praise for Pratika, the right-handed batter, and her family is entirely justified.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Since debuting against the West Indies in Vadodara last year, Pratika, 24, has amassed 444 runs at an average of 74. No other women\u2019s batter has scored as many runs in their first six international innings as Pratika has \u2013 only South Africa men\u2019s batter Janneman Malan has come up better.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In the last of those six matches, Pratika dished out the biggest knock of her bubbling international career \u2013 smashing 154 off 129 balls and sharing a 233-run stand with her opening partner and captain Smriti Mandhana to help India post 430\/5, their biggest ODI total.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Smriti lauded Pratika\u2019s adaptability and calmness following India\u2019s clean sweep of the series. Pradeep, who saw all six of Pratika\u2019s games in Vadodara and Rajkot, is revelling in the joyful outcome of a dream he\u2019s cherished for years \u2013 his daughter playing for India.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cLife has changed more than it was before. The dream I had seen since her childhood, that she will do something good in cricket, it has come true today. So, first of all, thanks to God, parents and coaches, the days we are seeing right now, it is the result of all putting in their hard work. When your child fulfils your long-standing dream, it feels extremely wonderful,\u201d said Pradeep in an exclusive conversation with IANS.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The starting point of Pratika\u2019s cricket journey emerged from initial coaching by Pradeep, a certified Level 1 umpire from the BCCI and a state panel umpire at the DDCA. Playing cricket was Pradeep\u2019s passion as a youngster, but he couldn\u2019t go further because of not having much support from his parents, and no guiding figure available to help him reach the next level.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
He poured all his cricketing life lessons into Pratika, who knew how to hold a bat and grip it by the time she turned three. \u201cWhen she was very young, she used to go with me to watch my matches where I was umpiring, and would stand outside or sit down to see the game entirely.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cThrough my methods, I taught her how to bat and bowl. In the beginning, I used to make her practice batting against a tennis ball. I also made her a medium pacer, then she became an opener, and in pursuit of making her one, I got to change her bowling to off-spin, thinking that she would get some rest,\u201d he recalls.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With the increase in Pradeep\u2019s umpiring engagements, Pratika, then in fourth grade, was admitted to the Rohtak Road Gymkhana Cricket Academy under coach Shravan Kumar, whose prominent students include Ishant Sharma and Harshit Rana. With a growing desire to play cricket professionally, Pratika also became the first female student to train under Shravan.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cBut she didn\u2019t get much time there for batting, as it would be for just 10 minutes. Plus, less attention was paid to catching, fielding and fitness, as they focused more on bowling and batting. I wanted for someone to give her initial focus, and spend more time on her,\u201d adds Pradeep.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
In 2015-2016, Pradeep enrolled Pratika for more individual batting training under Dipti Dhyani, a coach with the Railways team. \u201cShe focused more on Pratika\u2019s fitness and mental health, and gave time by making her bat for 12 hours. She would make her do knocking of the bat, as well as work on fielding and fielding via various drills. There they pushed her a lot and made her improve so much,\u201d adds Pradeep.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
After coming through the ranks in age-group cricket, Pratika made her senior debut for Delhi in 2021, where the highlight was a 155-ball 161. She then amassed 379 runs in eight games in the Senior Women\u2019s One-Day Trophy in 2022\/23 season and followed it up with 411 runs in seven innings in the next season.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cFrom the beginning, I taught her you have to approach your game from ball to ball. Like, you don\u2019t have to think about both the previously played ball and the upcoming delivery. But you have to focus on building your innings ball by ball, and that should be your target. Like Arjun\u2019s focus was only on hitting the fish through his arrow in Mahabharata, you have to go in that way,\u201d adds Pradeep.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Besides this, Pratika\u2019s passion for psychology\u2014a subject she majored in at Jesus & Mary College after achieving a 92.5% score on her 12th-grade exams\u2014is what Pradeep considers the biggest benefit to her career.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cStudying that has helped her read the minds of opposition bowlers and what they could do with the ball in hand. It has taught her to be cool, calm, and steady, all of which come of great importance when playing. So, studying psychology has been very beneficial for her,\u201d he said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Before joining the Railways\u2019 domestic season, Pratika saw her Rohtak Road academy teammates, Priya Mishra and Simran Dil Bahadur, represent India. But Pradeep reassured her, saying she should remain consistent in her processes, with an India call-up soon coming her way.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI said that time, \u2018It\u2019s okay. When the time comes, you will play for India too\u2019. Now everything which is there today has come after 16-17 years of hard work put in by her. It takes time, as when it\u2019s written, it has to happen. They say, bhagwan ke ghar der hai andher nahi (In God\u2019s home, there may be delay but there is no denial). God gave us this happiness at its time, and we thank him for that,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
At the Kotambi Stadium in Vadodara on December 22, 2024, Pratika made her international ODI cricket debut against the West Indies, with Pradeep among the spectators. \u201cHer debut game was such a big moment, so how could I miss it? I used to stay hidden from the media in the stadium, because I thought, \u2018What to talk about? How it would turn out to be?\u2019\u201d he stated, as Pratika made 40.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
But Pradeep\u2019s eyes and mind were searching for the magical century coming off Pratika\u2019s bat. She came close to getting it three times \u2013 76 in the second ODI against the West Indies and scores of 89 and 67 against Ireland.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Among the things waiting was a banner that Pradeep had carried and promised to open once Pratika scored a hundred. \u201cAfter games in Vadodara, I said to her \u2018It\u2019s okay beta, it will be done. Don\u2019t worry, you are not too far away from your century\u2019. I again took the banner to the last ODI match, and when I was sitting on the ground, I felt she should try to get the hundred.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
With her glorious strokeplay and ability to hit shots all around the wicket, with the drive, pull and sweep being her strong points, Pratika finally got the elusive century and out came Pradeep\u2019s banner which had her picture with the lines reading \u2018Pratika Rawal, Welcome to the Indian team and best of luck for bright future. Rawal\u2019s family proud of you\u2019.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cAfter she reached the century, I thought she should go for 150. Post that, I felt like she should try to get 200. But she fell, as the timing wasn\u2019t right on the shot. She and me did plan for getting 200 that game, as there were six overs left after that,\u201d adds Pradeep, as Pratika took Player of the Match and Player of the Series awards at the Niranjan Shah Stadium.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
2025 is pivotal for India\u2019s senior women\u2019s team; ODI series versus England and Australia precede the all-important home World Cup. The Rohit Sharma-led men\u2019s team captivated the nation with their ten-match winning streak in 2023 before their heartbreaking loss in the final to Australia.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
As a result, the women\u2019s team will be under immense pressure to match and even surpass the accomplishments of their male counterparts. Despite Pratika\u2019s strong showing, she\u2019ll be vying with Shafali Verma, who\u2019s been scoring big in domestic 50-over matches, for partnering Smriti at the top of the batting order.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Some believe that Pratika could also bat at number three, given her strong all-round game. According to Pradeep, they haven\u2019t discussed ODI World Cup selection because Pratika is focused on preparing for senior women\u2019s domestic red-ball matches in April, after not getting a 2025 WPL contract.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWe haven\u2019t thought about it (the ODI World Cup) yet, as it all depends on the selectors. So, we are focusing on preparing and planning for the first-class games now. After that, if she is selected for the England ODI series, we will work on training for that too, and the next series will be on that.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Playing international cricket at the highest level, for men or women, is incredibly demanding, as it involves immense pressure and constant public scrutiny. Pradeep, however, believes Pratika\u2019s career in the Indian team will be long and glorious, ensuring the happiness they\u2019ve enjoyed at their West Patel Nagar residence since January 15 continues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cWhen you reach this stage after doing a lot of penance, you have to serve the country by playing well. If you do something for yourself, then it will be good for the country too. I do understand that playing for the country is a very big thing.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Playing international cricket at the highest level, for men or women, is incredibly demanding, as it involves immense pressure and constant public scrutiny. Pradeep, however, believes Pratika\u2019s career in the Indian team will be long and glorious, ensuring the happiness they\u2019ve enjoyed at their West Patel Nagar residence since January 15 continues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
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