Pratika Rawal, who was first denied a World Cup winner’s medal because of International Cricket Council (ICC) rules, has finally received it. A photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed her proudly wearing the medal.
Rawal was India’s second-highest run-scorer in their historic Women’s World Cup win. But during the victory ceremony at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai last Sunday, she was seen without the medal. She arrived in a wheelchair, wrapped in the Indian tricolour, but the medal was missing.
However, a few days later, everything changed. When Prime Minister Modi hosted the Indian women’s cricket team at his residence on Lok Kalyan Marg, Rawal was seen wearing the medal in the team photo. The moment suggested that the ICC had made a rare exception to recognise her big role in India’s success.
All players, dressed in formal outfits and shining medals, posed with the Prime Minister to celebrate India’s victory on home soil. For Rawal, it was an emotional and proud moment after days of disappointment.
According to ICC regulations, only the 15 players officially named in the final squad receive winner’s medals. Pratika Rawal, though part of the original team, was ruled out after suffering an injury during the washed-out league match against Bangladesh. She was replaced by Shafali Verma before the semifinal.
Such situations are not new in cricket. During the 2003 Men’s ODI World Cup, Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie also missed out on a medal after taking eight wickets before an injury ended his tournament.
Pratika Rawal shares her emotions after watching the final from the stands.
Despite her injury, Pratika Rawal’s performance before being ruled out was outstanding. She scored 308 runs, including a brilliant century and a fifty. Her efforts played a big part in India’s first-ever Women’s World Cup win.
“I can’t express it enough. There’s no words. It’s not going to come out of my mouth. This flag on my shoulder means a lot to me. And you know, being here with my team, it’s just surreal,” she said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.
“To be very honest, it was very difficult for me to sit down and watch the match because it’s actually very difficult. It’s very easy to play inside rather than watching from the outside. But seeing this energy, seeing this environment, it just gave me goosebumps. Whenever there was a wicket, whenever there was a sixer, you know, you can see the energy. It’s amazing,” she added.
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