New Delhi, Nov 7 (PTI): Pratika Rawal, a psychology student, found her gut intuition validated when Shafali Verma, who took her place during the World Cup knock-outs, delivered an exceptional performance in the final. Her insight into the human mind suggested that Shafali would rise to the occasion under the spotlight of the finals. Despite a cruel twist of fate leading to Rawal missing the two landmark games of her career due to an unfortunate ankle and knee injury, her belief in her teammate remained steadfast.
"Shafali doesn’t need motivation. She plays with instinct and belief. Before the final, she approached me apologetically saying, 'I'm really sorry you can't play,' and I comforted her, insisting that it's just part of the sport. Deep down, I knew she would shine brightly on that day," Rawal revealed to PTI Videos. While Rawal had established herself as a force, scoring 308 runs to sit third in the list after Smriti Mandhana (434) and Ashleigh Gardner (328), her injury against Bangladesh had handed Shafali the opportunity.
The injury came at the most crucial juncture in her career, but Rawal's background in psychology aided her understanding and acceptance of the situation. "I won’t claim to be a psychologist yet without my Master's qualification," she joked, attributing her academic learnings as a pillar that reinforced her during tough times.
Her pragmatic approach was her salvation. She processed emotions through acceptance, focusing on recovery, sleep, nutrition, and supporting her team, rather than indulging in self-pity. "Though disappointed, I avoided breakdowns. With my father, coach Shravan Kumar, and family providing consistent support, I didn't feel isolated at any moment," she noted.
Her father, she humorously recounted, seemed more affected by the injury than herself. "I tend to hide my emotions, but watching my father cry was tough," she chuckled.
Reflecting on the victory, Rawal admitted the surreal nature of it all. "Being wheeled out by my teammates for on-field celebrations was overwhelming. Seeing the trophy repeatedly reminds me of our achievement." She also cleared up any confusion surrounding the medal she was seen with. Though her medal was delayed, she was graciously lent one by the support staff, and now has her own.
Rawal, who debuted in 2022, boasts commendable statistics with over 1,100 runs in 24 ODIs, including two centuries and seven fifties, asserting her rise in the sport. The team, she emphasized, never falters under outside pressure. "Our internal conversations post losses were open and constructive, focusing on improvement and accountability."
On her batting approach, Rawal believes in adapting rather than adhering to fixed roles. "Different matches require different strategies. I anchor if Smriti gets out early, or accelerate if the situation demands."
As for recovery, Rawal is optimistic. She is nearing full mobility and is eagerly awaiting clearance to resume batting. She reminisced lightly about India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi offering her bhel, finding humor in the moment.
With her psychology studies providing her a mental advantage and her impressive on-field performances marking her as a promising talent, Rawal now focuses on returning stronger. Her next goal is to finish her rehabilitation diligently and return for the domestic season. Looking further, she has her sights set on the upcoming WPL season.
"For now, being fit, training smart, and capitalizing on every opportunity is my priority," she concluded with a determined smile.
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