Pratika Rawal Ruled Out Of One-Off Test Vs England; Replacement Named

Pratika Rawal (Source: AFP Photos)

Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of India squad for the upcoming one-off Test against England Women at Lord’s in London, set to be played later this week. 

India Women's team head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed the development while speaking with the reporters during a press conference on Wednesday, July 8. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has since named her replacement for the all-important match. 

It is worth noting that Rawal is yet to play a single international match since India’s tour of Australia earlier this year. 

BCCI recall uncapped star after Pratika Rawal injury

Pratika Rawal has suffered an injury and has been ruled out of India’s upcoming one-off Test against England. 

It is vital to note that Amol Muzumdar also confirmed that fellow top-order batter Priya Punia will be joining the national squad as Pratikal Rawal’s official replacement. 

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Pratika Rawal played the lone Test match of her career earlier this year against Australia in Perth. The right-handed batter scored 81 runs in the match, which included a fighting half-century. 

Quite recently, she played a couple of limited-overs matches for the India A Women's team against their English counterparts in Hove and Taunton. 

Following Pratika Rawal's injury and ouster, here is a look at an updated Team India Women’s squad for the one-off Test against England.

India squad vs England: Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Smriti Mandhana (vc), Yastika Bhatia (wk), Shree Charani, Harleen Deol, Kranti Gaud, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Priya Punia, Jemimah Rodrigues, Sayali Satghare, Deepti Sharma, Nandani Sharma, Renuka Singh and Shafali Verma.

Who is Priya Punia?

Priya Punia made her international debut way back in February 2019 during a T20I series in Wellington. She made her ODI debut later that year in Vadodara. 

So far, the right-handed top-order batter has played 12 ODIs and three T20I matches for India Women’s team. However, she has been ruled out of contention for Team India since her last appearance in December 2024.

If Punia makes it to the playing XI against England, the occasion will mark her maiden outing for Team India in Test cricket and also her return to the international game after nearly two years.

India to face England in historic Test after T20 World Cup disappointment 

Team India, under the leadership of Harmanpreet Kaur, toured England a couple of months ago to play a three-match T20I series. The ‘Women in Blue’ lost that series 1-2, despite Yastika Bhatia’s batting heroics and Shree Charani’s bowling form. 

After failing to qualify for the semifinal of the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur and co. will now take on hosts England in their one-off historic Test match at the iconic Lord’s in London. The match will be played between Friday, July 10 and Monday, July 13.

The match marks the first-ever Women’s Test to be hosted by the venue.

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