Bageshwar: Prema Rawat, a 24-year-old from Sumti-Baisani village in Uttarakhand's Bageshwar district, was named to India's squad for the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on Friday. Her selection marks a historic milestone, making her one of the very few women from the state's remote hill districts to break into the national team.
Rawat joins the squad in England and Wales as an injury replacement for off-spinner Shreyanka Patil, following approval from the ICC Technical Committee.
The news sparked widespread celebrations across Bageshwar. Villagers gathered at Rawat's ancestral home to congratulate her family and distribute sweets. Growing up in an area lacking basic sporting infrastructure, Rawat initially pursued hockey and athletics before pivoting to cricket—a decision that redefined her future.
Her father, Kedar Singh Rawat, an Indian Air Force personnel posted in Assam, recalled the exact turning point: “We were watching a women's match on television, and I casually told her to look at how those girls were playing. Something clicked. She decided to take cricket seriously and never looked back.”
A skilled right-handed batter and leg-spinner, Rawat dominated the domestic circuit. Her true breakthrough came during the 2023 Senior Women's T20 Tournament, where she scalped 16 wickets in 10 matches. This stellar performance fast-tracked her into the India A set-up and earned her a Women's Premier League (WPL) contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
“She has shown remarkable consistency and maturity,” said Suresh Suniyal of the Bageshwar Cricket Association. “Her leg-spin gives India another attacking option, while her batting adds vital depth to the lower order.”
For her mother, Basanti Devi, and her 90-year-old grandmother, Haruli Devi, the selection is a dream come true. “Our granddaughter has made the entire village proud,” Haruli Devi said. “We never imagined she would wear the India jersey.”
Rawat's call-up is a landmark moment for Uttarakhand cricket, proving that talent from the state's most isolated mountain regions can successfully compete on the world stage.
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