Pratika Rawal’s expected county cricket debut with Warwickshire has been put on hold after the India opener received her maiden T20I call-up on Friday. Rawal was scheduled to join the Bears for the remainder of the Metro Bank One-Day Cup, but her selection for India means she will no longer travel to Edgbaston.
Rawal signed with Warwickshire last month and was due to make her county debut when the One-Day Cup resumed on August 19. She was expected to feature against Yorkshire at Edgbaston as Warwickshire looked to strengthen their squad for the latter stages of the competition.
However, her plans changed following Friday’s announcement that she had been added to India’s squad for the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup. Rawal was called up as a replacement for Jemimah Rodrigues, who was ruled out of the tournament after suffering a high-grade right hamstring injury.
PRATIKA’S INDIA CALL-UP COMES AT THE COST OF COUNTY DEBUT
Rawal’s withdrawal is a setback for Warwickshire, who had hoped the opener would bolster their batting during the One-Day Cup run-in. Bears head coach Ali Maiden admitted that the team was disappointed to lose the 25-year-old but recognised the importance of her international opportunity.
“We were really looking forward to welcoming Pratika into our squad for the remainder of the season and we’re incredibly disappointed to lose her,” Maiden said.
“That being said, we’ve still got a lot to play for in the remaining weeks of the season and we’re confident in the squad we have at our disposal.”
Despite Warwickshire’s disappointment, Maiden stressed that representing India was an opportunity Rawal could not be expected to turn down.
“Playing for your country is the ultimate honour and we wish Pratika well in the Asia Cup.”
The call-up marks another major milestone in Rawal’s rapidly progressing international career. The 25-year-old has become an important part of India’s ODI side since making her debut in December 2024 and played a key role in India’s 2025 World Cup-winning campaign. She had also recently returned to action after recovering from an injury that ruled her out of the Lord’s Test against England.
Warwickshire will now have to continue their One-Day Cup campaign without the India opener. For Rawal, however, the postponed county debut has been replaced by an opportunity to make her mark in T20I cricket for India.
