India batsman 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 Metbank One-Day Cup. Laval will feature in Warwickshire’s next One-Day Cup fixture on August 19 as the Bears continue their push for a place in the Championship knockout stages.
Return after injury
The move marks Rawal’s return to competitive cricket after recovering from a knee injury that ruled her out of India’s one-off Test against England at Lord’s. She sustained an injury during the India A-League match at Taunton on July 1 and required stitches, forcing her to miss the landmark Test.Warwickshire currently sit fifth in the Metbank One-Day Cup standings and are aiming to finish in the top three and qualify for the knockout rounds. The club believes Laval’s arrival will provide extra firepower in the closing stages of the tournament.Welcoming the India opener, the club said her addition will strengthen the squad as they look to end the season on a strong note.The club said in a statement: “This is a great signing for the team and we are delighted to be able to welcome Pratika to Edgbaston. We are currently in a good position in the One-Day Cup table and bringing in a player of Pratika’s caliber will only strengthen our squad as we aim to end the season on a positive note.”Rawal said she is eager to experience county cricket and is looking forward to representing Warwickshire at one of the most iconic venues in England.“I’m delighted to be joining Warwickshire; I’ve heard so many positive things about the club and I’m excited to move on and help the team in any way I can. It will be a great experience for me to test myself by playing in England and I’m also looking forward to getting out of Edgbaston, an iconic venue for world cricket,” she said.
The rapid rise of international cricket
Since his international debut in December 2024, Rawal has emerged as one of India’s finest batting talents. She holds the record for 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 hosting of the Women’s ODI World Cup, scoring 308 runs, including a century against New Zealand, helping India win the title in 2025.
