India batter Pratika Rawal has signed with Warwickshire Women for the remainder of the 2026 domestic season, with the 25-year-old set to bolster the county’s batting line-up in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup. Rawal will be available for selection from Warwickshire’s next One-Day Cup fixture on August 19, as the Bears continue their push for a place in the tournament’s eliminators.
Recovery after injury
The move marks Rawal’s return to competitive cricket after recovering from a knee injury that kept him out of India’s test against England at Lord’s. He suffered the injury in an India A match at Taunton on July 1, which required stitches and forced him out of the landmark Test.Warwickshire currently occupy fifth place in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup standings and are looking to finish in the top three to qualify for the knockout stage. The club believes Rawal’s arrival will provide more firepower at the top of the order during the closing stages of the competition.Welcoming the opener in India, the club said his addition will strengthen the squad as they look to finish the season strong.“This is a great signing for the team, and we are very pleased to be able to welcome Pratika to Edgbaston. Our position in the One Day Cup table is currently good, and bringing in a player of Pratika’s caliber can only serve to strengthen our squad as we look to end the season on a positive note,” the club said in a statement.Rawal said he wanted to experience county cricket and was looking forward to representing Warwickshire at one of the most beautiful venues in England.“I’m very happy to join Warwickshire; I’ve heard a lot of positive things about the club and I’m excited to go and do everything I can to help the team. To test myself by playing in England is a great experience for me, and I’m also looking forward to walking in Edgbaston, which is an iconic ground in world cricket,” he said.
A rapid rise in international cricket
Rawal has emerged as one of India’s brightest batting talents since making her international debut in December 2024. She holds the record as the fastest woman to reach 500 ODI runs, achieving the milestone in just eight innings. The opener also played a key role in India’s successful Women’s ODI World Cup campaign, scoring 308 runs, including a century against New Zealand, to help the team lift the 2025 title.