Shafali Verma replaces injured Pratika Rawal for the remainder of ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025

Pratika Rawal suffered an injury during India’s last league match of the tournament against Bangladesh.

Shafali Verma has been approved as the replacement for the injured Pratika Rawal in India’s ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 squad for the rest of the tournament, the ICC confirmed on Monday (October 27).

Rawal has been ruled out of the remainder of the ICC event after suffering a serious ankle injury. The incident happened during India’s final league stage match against Bangladesh on Sunday, October 26.

Rawal slipped and fell awkwardly while fielding near the boundary ropes during the rain-soaked match at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Sports Academy.

Rawal tripped while sprinting towards deep mid-wicket as her right foot became stuck in the turf as she attempted to circle back after overrunning to save a boundary.

Wincing in pain, she was removed from the field by the team’s support crew and did not return for the remainder of India’s bowling innings or to begin the chase in the game, which was eventually abandoned.

Shafali Verma set to play for India in second semi-final against Australia

Rawal made 308 runs in seven games at an average of 51.33 and a strike rate of 77.77, including two fifties and one century, with the highest score being 122.

Shafali Verma has been named as the replacement for Pratika, and the 21-year-old is available for India’s semi-final against Australia on October 30. Shafali wasn’t picked in the initial India squad for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup and wasn’t included in the reserves as well.

Shafali might join the playing XI for the semi-final against Australia right away. If Shafali does not make the XI right away, India may choose Harleen Deol or Amanjot to open against Australia.  

Uma Chetry, who opened in the warm-up against New Zealand, is another option as is Jemimah Rodrigues, who has opened in 18 previous ODIs. Tejal Hasabnis, the lone batter in the World Cup reserves, was not called up following Rawal’s injury.

Shafali has not played an ODI for India since October 2024; however, she has represented India A in the 50-over format. She scored 52 against Australia A in Brisbane in August and 70 against New Zealand A in Bengaluru in September.

In December 2024, Shafali scored 527 runs for Haryana in domestic one-dayers at an average of 75.28 and a strike rate of 152.31, including a top score of 197 off 115 balls against Bengal.

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