Pratika Rawal Says She Shares ‘Natural Understanding’ with Smriti Mandhana

Young Indian top-order batter Pratika Rawal believes her partnership with star opener Smriti Mandhana thrives on a “natural understanding,” which has already translated into multiple strong starts for the national side ahead of the ODI Women’s World Cup beginning on September 30.

The Delhi cricketer, who made her ODI debut in December last year, has quickly established herself as a consistent presence at the top of the order. Rawal said that despite both she and Mandhana being “introverts,” their personalities align seamlessly on the field.

“I feel we have a natural understanding, so we don’t need to make any extra effort. It just clicks,” Rawal said after India’s dominant win against Australia.

In the first ODI of the ongoing series, Rawal and Mandhana put together a century stand, laying the foundation for India’s innings. They followed it up with a 70-run partnership in the second ODI, which India won by a record 102-run margin.

With the World Cup fast approaching, the flourishing partnership between Rawal and Mandhana is being seen as a vital asset for India’s campaign. Cricket analysts have noted that their ability to build solid starts could play a decisive role in India’s performance on the global stage.