Pratika Rawal limps off the field during Bangladesh match with injury

India opener Pratika Rawal has been sidelined from the team's inconsequential last league game of the Cricket World Cup 2025 against Bangladesh in Navi Mumbai on Sunday (October 26) with a knee and ankle injury.

The incident happened on the last ball of the 21st over of Bangladesh's innings, resuming after two-and-a-half hours of rain break. Fielding near the midwicket boundary, Rawal overran and in her attempt to turn back to field, her right foot seemed stuck in the turf. She ended up twisting her ankle before falling to the ground with visible discomfort.

The last match of the league stages of the World Cup, at the DY Patil Stadium, had already begun two hours behind schedule because of the unseasonal rain that had arrived around toss time. Then again, barely 12.2 overs into Bangladesh's innings after they were put in to bat, a longer, sharper spell of rainfall halted action for over two hours.

While rain lashed down, the groundstaff had initially only covered the main square. Extra covers were subsequently brought on to extend the protection straight down the ground, on either ends of the wicket, leaving large parts of both the onside and the off-side field still exposed. While the drainage has been quick at the venue, where Rawal fell was one of the uncovered areas and seemed a bit damp.

Visibly in pain, Rawal limped off the field with the help of support staff and did not return for the remainder of Bangladesh's innings. She also didn't walk out to bat in the run chase.

Rawal, who debuted for India in December 2024, has had a stellar first year in international cricket. She hit her maiden World Cup century in the previous game against New Zealand, at the same venue. In the process, she also became the joint-fastest to 1000 runs in women's ODIs and only the second ever, after Smriti Mandhana, to aggregate 1000 runs in a calendar year.

The injury adds to India's concerns ahead of the semifinal against defending champions Australia on Thursday. In the game against New Zealand, Richa Ghosh had sustained a blow to her finger and was subsequently rested for the Bangladesh game, leading to a ODI debut for backup 'keeper Uma Chetry today.

A day before the game, India bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi had said "she's fine" while also adding the disclaimer that he did not have an exact update. At toss, captain Harmanpreet Kaur only said Ghosh is "resting" for this game.

Hosts India do not have a reserve opener/batter in their World Cup squad of 15 besides Chetry. Tejal Hasabnis is the only batter among the five reserves India named at the time of the squad selection.