Indian women’s cricket is witnessing the upward thrust of a brand new celebrity, and her name is Pratika Rawal. The 24-12 months-vintage opener etched her name into the report books on Tuesday at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where she became only the second Indian lady, after the mythical Mithali Raj, to score 5 consecutive fifty-plus ratings in One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Rawal’s trendy milestone came at some stage in India’s 2d fit of the ongoing tri-nation ODI series against South Africa. Walking out to open the innings after India gained the toss and elected to bat first, Rawal persevered in her dream run with the bat, scoring a fluent 78 runs off 91 balls. She reached her fifth successive fifty magnificently, launching a six off South Africa’s Onari Dirksen. Her innings protected seven boundaries and one six earlier than she turned into in the end brushed off by Nonkululeko Mlaba.
A Dream Start to Her Career
Rawal’s ODI adventure has not been anything short of sensational since her debut in December 2024. In her first actual fit towards the West Indies in Baroda, she scored a promising 40 runs. She observed it up to 76 in her 2d game. In January 2025, for the duration of a domestic collection in opposition to Ireland, she registered ratings of 89, 67, and a career-exceptional 154—an innings that made the cricketing international take critical note of her skills.
Continuing her form into the tri-nation series in Sri Lanka, Rawal played a healthy-winning unbeaten knock of fifty within the first ODI against the hosts on April 27, helping India secure a 90-run victory. Just days later, she once again added a key overall performance towards South Africa, notching up her fifth consecutive half-century.
Record-Breaking Streak
With this achievement, Rawal joins an elite club, which only includes Mithali Raj among Indian women’s cricketers. Mithali scored seven fifties in a row in 2017, a record in women’s ODI cricket. He also achieved a streak of five fifties in 2021. Outside India, former England captain Charlotte Edwards has two different lines of fifty, while Australia’s Ellis Perry is alone on top, having achieved it on three different occasions.
But Rawal didn’t stop there. He set a new record to reach the 500 ODI runs in the history of women’s cricket, which he achieved in his 8th innings. With a total of 572 races so far, she is on average 81.71 with a strike rate of 92.7, crossing Charlotte Edwards, who reached the brand in her ninth half.
Match Summary: India vs South Africa, 2nd ODI
India posted a commanding overall of 276/6 in their 50 overs. The establishing partnership among Pratika Rawal (78 off ninety-one) and Smriti Mandhana (36 off fifty-four) laid a strong basis, putting together eighty-three runs. After Mandhana’s dismissal, Rawal endured the innings with Harleen Deol, before falling with the score at 151/2.
Harleen quickly accompanied, however, India’s center-order maintained the momentum going. Jemimah Rodrigues delivered a brisk 41 off 32 balls, at the same time as captain Harmanpreet Kaur contributed forty-one off forty-eight. The innings acquired a late surge from Richa Ghosh, who blasted 24 off just 14 balls, followed through completing touches from Deepti Sharma (9 off eight) and Kashvee Gautam (5* off 6).
India’s general of 276 has placed South Africa under stress within the vital tie of the tri-series, with the Women in Blue looking dominant.
Future Star in the Making
In just 8 innings, Pratika Rawal has hooked herself up as one of the maximum promising younger talents in women’s cricket. Her composure at the crease, big selection of strokes, and capability to attain continually have drawn comparisons with some of the best names in the game. With her ancient performances and eye for milestones, she is well on her way to becoming the next massive call in Indian cricket.
As India appears ahead to imminent fixtures inside the tri-series and past, fans and selectors alike might be looking Rawal’s journey with brilliant expectations. If her cutting-edge form is any indication, this young batter would possibly simply be the face of the next generation of Indian women’s cricket.