{"id":7344,"date":"2025-08-23T07:16:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-23T07:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/23\/ex-ind-all-rounder-explains-why-pratika-rawal-is-in-world-cup-squad-shafali-verma-is-an-x-factor-but-cricket-news\/"},"modified":"2025-08-23T07:16:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-23T07:16:56","slug":"ex-ind-all-rounder-explains-why-pratika-rawal-is-in-world-cup-squad-shafali-verma-is-an-x-factor-but-cricket-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/2025\/08\/23\/ex-ind-all-rounder-explains-why-pratika-rawal-is-in-world-cup-squad-shafali-verma-is-an-x-factor-but-cricket-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-IND All-Rounder Explains Why Pratika Rawal Is In World Cup Squad: ‘Shafali Verma Is An X-Factor But…’ | Cricket News"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Reema Malhotra backs Pratika Rawal over Shafali Verma for India\u2019s ODI World Cup squad, praising consistency.<\/h2>\n
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Indian star batters Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma ()X and PTI<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n

Former all-rounder Reema Malhotra endorsed the inclusion of Pratika Rawal over Shafali Verma in India\u2019s women\u2019s ODI World Cup squad, stressing the importance of consistency over the X-factor.<\/p>\n

Since her debut against the West Indies in December last year, Rawal has scored 703 runs in 14 ODIs, averaging 54 with a strike rate of 87.43.<\/p>\n

In contrast, Verma\u2019s recent performances have been underwhelming, scoring 52, 4, and 36 in three ODIs, and 41, 3, and 3 in the preceding T20s against Australia A for India A.<\/p>\n

\u201cShafali is a big name. She\u2019s an X-factor you want in your team. But when you compare an X-factor with consistent performance, I think the captain and selectors rightly preferred the consistent player,” Malhotra told PTI-Bhasha.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrathika has earned her spot by capitalising on her opportunities. She has shown she has the technique and mindset required to represent India in ODIs,” said Malhotra who has played 41 ODIs and 22 T20Is for India.<\/p>\n

The World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, is set to be held from September 30 to November 2.<\/p>\n

Can India Win The ICC Women\u2019s World Cup?<\/h2>\n

Malhotra believes India will be strong contenders for the title, highlighting the right mix of youth and experience in the Harmanpreet Kaur-led squad.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you look at any past Women\u2019s World Cup, this is India\u2019s strongest team. It has seasoned players like Harmanpreet, Smriti Mandhana, Jemimah Rodrigues, and Deepti Sharma, alongside powerful youngsters like Amanjot Kaur, Kranti Gaur, Shree Charani, and Richa Ghosh,” she said on the sidelines of the Delhi Premier League.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe team has a great mix of youth and experience. I don\u2019t think you\u2019ll find a better team for the World Cup. This team has the confidence to win the World Cup,” she added.<\/p>\n

Despite reaching the final twice, India is yet to win a World Cup. In the 2017 final, India lost to England by nine runs, and in 2005, they were defeated by Australia by 98 runs.<\/p>\n

However, Malhotra is hopeful for a different outcome this time, thanks to an improved bowling attack and a diverse batting line-up.<\/p>\n

\u201cIndian team was always strong in batting but now they have pace options in Renuka Singh Thakur, Amanjot, and Arundhati Reddy, while in spin, there\u2019s Deepti, Radha Yadav, and Sneh Rana.<\/p>\n

\u201cSneh has matured a lot in white-ball cricket and knows how to bowl in ODIs. This spin trio will be very effective in Indian conditions,” Malhotra opined while admitting that injury to pacer Pooja Vastrakar is a setback to the team,” she said.<\/p>\n

(With inputs from PTI)<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

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Ritayan Basu<\/a><\/p>\n

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha…Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha… Read More<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

News<\/a> cricket<\/a> Ex-IND All-Rounder Explains Why Pratika Rawal Is In World Cup Squad: ‘Shafali Verma Is An X-Factor But…’<\/span><\/div>\n
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Last Updated:August 23, 2025, 12:26 IST Reema Malhotra backs Pratika Rawal over Shafali Verma for India\u2019s ODI World Cup squad, praising consistency. Indian star batters Pratika Rawal and Shafali Verma ()X and PTI Former all-rounder Reema Malhotra endorsed the inclusion of Pratika Rawal over Shafali Verma in India\u2019s women\u2019s ODI World Cup squad, stressing the…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7345,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cricket"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7344","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7344"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7344\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7345"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7344"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7344"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tezgyan.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7344"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}