In a significant update to their ongoing multi-format tour, India Women have officially welcomed back star opening batter Pratika Rawal to the squad. The BCCI confirmed on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, that Rawal has fully recovered from an ankle injury and will join the team for the three-match ODI series starting next week.
Rawal’s return is a major morale booster for the visitors, who currently lead the T20I leg 1-0 following a clinical performance at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Road to Recovery
Pratika Rawal’s injury was a heartbreaking moment during the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup in India. Despite missing the knockout stages, she had already made an indelible mark on the tournament:
- Leading from the Front: Before her injury against Bangladesh, Rawal was India’s top run-scorer in the World Cup.
- World Cup Stats: She amassed 308 runs in just six innings, maintaining an elite average of 51.33 and recording a crucial century.
- Rehabilitation: After four months of intensive recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, she has been given the green light by the medical team.
ODI Career at a Glance
Since her debut, Rawal has been one of the most consistent performers in the 50-over format, quickly becoming a mainstay in the Indian top order.
| Statistic | Career Record (ODIs) |
| Total Runs | 1,110 |
| Innings | 23 |
| Batting Average | 50.45 |
| Centuries / Fifties | 2 / 7 |
| Highest Score | 154 (vs. Ireland, Jan 2025) |
Updated India ODI Squad vs. Australia
The addition of Rawal brings the squad to 16 members, providing Captain Harmanpreet Kaur with significant flexibility at the top of the order.
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- Captain: Harmanpreet Kaur
- Vice-Captain: Smriti Mandhana
- Batters: Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harleen Deol, Pratika Rawal
- Wicketkeepers: Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry
- All-rounders: Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Amanjot Kaur
- Bowlers: Renuka Thakur, Sree Charani, Vaishnavi Sharma, Kranti Gaud, Kashvee Gautam
Upcoming Schedule: India Tour of Australia 2026
With the T20Is still underway, fans can look forward to the ODI leg beginning shortly.
- 1st ODI: Tuesday, February 24 – Allan Border Field, Brisbane
- 2nd ODI: Friday, February 27 – Bellerive Oval, Hobart
- 3rd ODI: Sunday, March 1 – Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Following the ODIs, the tour will culminate in a historic one-off Pink-Ball Test at Perth Stadium starting March 6.
