From Psychology Student to World Cup Champion
Pratika Rawal, a talented psychology student and cricketer, demonstrated remarkable mental strength when an unfortunate injury prevented her from playing in the World Cup final. Despite this setback, her understanding of human behavior helped her predict that replacement player Shafali Verma would deliver an exceptional performance.
Rawal's prediction about Verma proved accurate, though she missed the opportunity to participate in the two most significant matches of her career due to ankle and knee injuries sustained during the final group league match against Bangladesh.
The Power of Psychological Training
"Shafali doesn't need motivation. She plays with instinct and belief," Rawal shared with PTI. "Before the final, she came up to me and said, 'I'm really sorry you can't play,' and I told her it's fine, these things happen. I had a feeling she would do something special that day."
Rawal's background in psychology became her greatest asset during this challenging period. "I should not say I am a psychologist yet because I haven't completed my Masters' degree," she smiled. "But as someone who has studied psychology, it really helped me to understand human emotions better - including my own."
Her approach to handling the disappointment was methodical and psychologically sound. "The first thing is to accept what's happened. You can't undo it. Once I accepted the injury, I focused only on what I could control - recovery, sleep, nutrition, and supporting the team."
Strong Support System and Recovery Journey
Rawal emphasized the importance of her support network during recovery. "There was disappointment, yes, but no breakdown. My dad was there, my coach (Shravan Kumar) kept checking on me, my mom and brother called every day. I have such a good support system. They didn't let me spiral or feel alone."
Interestingly, Rawal revealed that her father was more emotional about the injury than she was. "I don't show emotions easily, but my dad cried a lot - I had to calm him down," she laughed.
The reality of winning the World Cup hasn't fully registered with Rawal, who celebrated with her teammates while in a wheelchair. "It's going to take me a lot of time to get used to the fact that we have won the World Cup. It has not sunk in yet. Whenever I see that trophy, that's when I realized, oh, this has actually happened."
Rawal also addressed the confusion regarding her medal situation. "I have my own medal now. One of the support staff had lent me theirs temporarily because mine hadn't reached on time. Jay (Shah) sir has sent me a medal, someone told me. I was so happy but people made a big deal of it online, it will take some time but will come to me."
Impressive Career Stats and Team Philosophy
Since her 2022 debut, Rawal has accumulated over 1,100 runs in 24 ODIs, including two centuries and seven fifties, maintaining an impressive average of 50.45. In the recent tournament, she scored 308 runs and ranked third in run-scoring behind Smriti Mandhana (434) and Ashleigh Gardner (328).
She highlighted the team's focused approach: "We didn't think about social media or criticism. It was always about what was happening inside our dressing room. We had a lot of open conversations, and everyone took responsibility. That was the difference."
Rawal's team-first mentality is evident in her batting philosophy. "Every match demands something different. If Smriti (Mandhana) gets out early, I'm told to anchor and stay long. If we need to score runs quickly, I'm asked to accelerate. For me, it's never about personal milestones, it's about the team's rhythm."
Road to Recovery and Future Goals
Rawal's recovery is progressing well. "I'm feeling a lot better now. My x-ray is due in a few days, and I'm doing most things on my own. I've started light mobility work too. Once the doctors clear me, I'll start batting again. I'm very excited to return — I miss holding the bat."
She shared an amusing moment from the team's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "He offered me bhel because I was on a wheelchair. I remember thinking, 'Oh my God, this is the most expensive bhel I've ever had!'" she said, laughing.
With her psychology background and proven cricket abilities, Rawal is focused on her recovery and return to cricket. "My next target is to complete rehab properly and come back for the domestic season. I don't like rushing recovery. I'm a person who can bat all day and still not get tired — I want to get back to that zone."
Looking ahead, she added with a smile: "Maybe the next WPL season. For now, it is all about being fit, training smart, and doing justice to the opportunities that come my way."
