Injured Pratika Rawal joins India’s World Cup celebrations in wheelchair — a moment of grit and team spirit

Quick take: Pratika Rawal’s emotional celebration after being ruled out

Pratika Rawal, one of India’s promising opening batters, joined her teammates in celebration after India lifted the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup trophy — despite being sidelined by an ankle injury. Draped in the tricolour and seated in a wheelchair, Rawal shared a touching moment with teammates, underscoring the team’s unity and resilience.

Who is Pratika Rawal — short profile and World Cup role

Pratika Rawal is a young Indian opener known for her aggressive strokeplay and calm approach at the top of the order. Selected in India’s World Cup squad, she played an important role in the group stage and was expected to be a key batter through the tournament.

Her presence in the dugout and in team photographs has been notable — even when she couldn’t take the field. That sense of presence became especially visible after the final, when she celebrated with teammates from a wheelchair, showing how integral she is to the squad spirit.

What happened — the injury explained

The incident and medical update

Pratika Rawal sustained an ankle injury late in India’s final group-stage match, twisting her ankle while fielding near the boundary. The injury was significant enough that match and team medical staff took her off the field, and subsequent scans indicated a hairline fracture in her right ankle. As a result, she was officially ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup.

Team response and squad changes

Following the medical assessment, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and team management moved quickly to update the squad. Shafali Verma was named as Rawal’s replacement ahead of a knockout match, a late-call decision reflecting the urgency of the situation and the need to fill India’s top-order gap.

The celebration moment — wheelchair, flag and a viral clip

What viewers saw

After India clinched the title, a widely shared clip showed Pratika Rawal in a wheelchair, wrapped in the Indian flag, celebrating with players such as Jemimah Rodrigues and Harmanpreet Kaur. At one point teammates lifted or embraced her, and she joined in the jubilation with visible joy — a brief yet powerful image that quickly went viral on social media. The scene became one of the more human highlights of the victory coverage.

Why it resonated

That moment resonated for two reasons. First, it showed how modern teams treat injured players as full members of the unit — not sidelined or forgotten. Second, it was an emotional reminder that triumph in team sport is about more than the XI on the field; it includes the entire support system, from injured players to physios and support staff. Fans responded with warmth, praising Rawal’s spirit and the team’s solidarity.

What this means for Pratika Rawal’s recovery and future

Medical outlook

Reports indicate the injury is a hairline fracture and that surgery was not immediately required. That suggests a recovery process involving rest, immobilisation, and physiotherapy rather than an immediate invasive procedure. The team’s medical staff will likely follow a staged rehabilitation plan focused on healing the bone, regaining ankle strength, and restoring match fitness.

Career implications

A hairline fracture and weeks of rehabilitation can be frustrating, but not career-defining if managed well. Pratika Rawal is young, and modern sports medicine gives promising timelines for return to play when fractures are treated conservatively and rehab is thorough. Her visible presence during the celebrations also keeps her connected to the team environment — psychologically valuable for a quick, confident comeback.

How fans and experts reacted to Pratika Rawal’s wheelchair appearance

Social media and press reactions

The wheelchair celebration clip drew positive coverage across national outlets and social platforms. Commentators praised the team’s camaraderie and Rawal’s fighting spirit. Many fans posted supportive messages wishing her a fast recovery, while pundits highlighted how such human moments help broaden the narrative around women’s sport beyond scorelines.

A larger message about team culture

For many observers, Pratika Rawal’s presence in the celebrations reinforced a modern team culture where every member — playing or injured — is valued. That contributes to long-term squad cohesion, making teams more resilient across tournaments and seasons.

Quick facts summary (for copy and reference)

• Incident: Ankle injury sustained during India’s final group-stage match.
• Diagnosis: Hairline fracture in the right ankle; no immediate surgery required.
• Squad change: Shafali Verma named as Rawal’s replacement for the knockout phase.
• Celebration: Pratika Rawal celebrated in a wheelchair after India won the World Cup; the clip went viral.

Final thoughts — why Pratika Rawal’s story matters

Pratika Rawal’s wheelchair celebration was more than a single headline. It humanised a young athlete’s setback and presented a powerful image of team unity after a historic triumph. For readers, the takeaway is simple: good team culture supports recovery, and the emotional threads behind every sporting victory are as meaningful as the trophies themselves.

If you follow women’s cricket, keep an eye on official team medical updates and BCCI communications for Pratika Rawal’s rehabilitation timeline — those will give the clearest indication of when she’ll be back on the field. For now, her place in the celebrations shows that she’s very much part of India’s World Cup story.

Also Read: “Harmanpreet Kaur’s Flag-Wrapped Hug Breaks the Internet!”