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India stand on the verge of history as they prepare to take on Australia in the semi-final of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.
Women’s World Cup 2025: Mithali Raj picks the ideal replacement for Pratika Rawal ahead of India’s semi-final vs Australia
Having played consistent cricket throughout the tournament, the team now faces a new challenge, the possible absence of Pratika Rawal, who injured her ankle during the previous league match against Bangladesh. Her fitness remains uncertain, leaving India in a dilemma about who should partner Smriti Mandhana at the top of the order. This uncertainty has caught the attention of former India captain Mithali Raj, who has raised pointed concerns about India’s opening strategy and team balance ahead of this all-important clash.
Mithali, speaking on JioStar, expressed concern over India’s decision-making at the top, especially in the event Pratika fails to recover in time. She suggested that Harleen Deol should be the preferred option to open with Mandhana, given her familiarity with the role and comfort against the new ball.
“The question now is who opens with Smriti if Pratika isn’t fit to take the field on the 30th. The first option could be promoting number three, Harleen, since she’s often walked in early and is comfortable facing the new ball. Ideally, today was a great opportunity for Harleen to open and build that equation with Smriti, assuming Pratika might not be available.”
Pratika’s injury adds pressure as India look for the right balance
The former captain Mithali insisted that India should have tested an alternate opening pair earlier in the campaign, especially once Pratika started showing signs of fatigue. Mithali also questioned India’s choice of promoting Amanjot Kaur as a temporary opener against Bangladesh, emphasizing that it disrupted the middle order’s rhythm.
She further noted that the team’s success so far has largely depended on strong opening partnerships, making it vital to retain structure and rhythm. Mithali’s analysis carried a warning, against a power-packed Australian attack led by Megan Schutt and Kim Garth, any uncertainty in the top order could put India under early pressure and jeopardize their momentum in a must-win game.
“If Pratika is fit, the same batting line-up continues. But sending Amanjot to open was something I didn’t quite understand. Yes, she needed some time out in the middle, but perhaps she could’ve slotted in at number three instead of opening,” Mithali concluded.
The injury cloud over Pratika has added a fresh layer of tension for the Indian think tank. While she remains hopeful of recovering in time, medical staff are being cautious not to risk aggravating her condition. If she is unavailable, India might be forced to make a tough call, either push Harleen Deol up the order or hand an unexpected promotion to Uma Chetry.
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
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