Pratika Rawal, radiant with a smile through her tears, witnessed India clinch their inaugural ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup trophy at the DY Patil Stadium on Sunday evening. The 24-year-old opener, who was unfortunately sidelined from the tournament due to an ankle injury sustained in the final group-stage match against Bangladesh, was present to celebrate with her ecstatic teammates. She joined them in her wheelchair, proudly draped in the Indian flag, embodying the spirit of collective victory.
For Pratika, the night was tinged with a bittersweet emotion. She had been in exceptional form prior to her injury, concluding the tournament as India’s second-highest scorer with an impressive 308 runs, including a century and a half-century, crucial to India’s path to the final. While her absence on the field was undoubtedly felt, fate intervened gracefully as her replacement, Shafali Verma, rose to the occasion, becoming the hero of the final with a sensational 87 runs that propelled India to a formidable total of 298 for 7 against South Africa.
Following India’s decisive 52-run victory, Pratika enthusiastically joined the celebrations from the sidelines. She cheered every single moment, waving the tricolour flag with immense pride. Later, she was embraced by her teammates on the field for the official post-match group photograph, with the team ensuring she was positioned at the very heart of the celebration, wheelchair and all, beside the gleaming trophy.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Pratika articulated her feelings, saying, “I can’t even begin to express it; there are simply no words. This flag on my shoulder means more than I can say. Being here with my team, experiencing this, it’s truly surreal. Injuries are an inherent part of sports, but I am just incredibly happy that I could still be a part of this team. I love this team dearly. I can’t put into words what I feel — we actually did it! We are the first Indian team to win the World Cup in such a long time, and the entire nation of India truly deserves this victory. Honestly, watching from the sidelines was even harder than playing. Every wicket, every boundary – it sent shivers down my spine. The energy, the crowd, the raw emotion – it was nothing short of incredible.”
In one of the evening’s most touching moments, Pratika was captured dancing joyfully in her wheelchair alongside her teammates, Jemimah Rodrigues and captain Harmanpreet Kaur. They celebrated the historic win with a vibrant bhangra, a dance of pure happiness. This powerful image of the three laughing and dancing together rapidly spread across social media, becoming a potent symbol of the unity and unwavering resilience that characterized India’s remarkable campaign.
Ultimately, for Pratika, the night transcended any personal disappointment. Instead, it was a profound celebration of pride — pride in her team, in her country, and in the incredible journey they had all embarked upon together. “We did it together,” she murmured softly, clutching the national flag close. “That’s truly all that matters tonight.”