IND W vs AUS W: Pratika Rawal shatters Meg Lanning's towering record with robust 64-run knock in India vs Australia first ODI

India women's cricket team locked horns with Australia in the first ODI to kick off their preparation for the all-important Women's World Cup 2025. India won the toss and elected to bat first in the first ODI on September 14. India's star opener Pratika Rawal shone bright with the bat and delivered a brilliant fifty which helped her bag a historic feat.

Pratik Rawal scripts history with robust 64-run knock

On a challenging wicket that favored the bowlers, Rawal displayed remarkable maturity. She formed a 114-run opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana, scoring a crucial 64 runs herself. With this knock, Pratika surpassed former Australian captain Meg Lanning to become the player with the most runs in ODIs after 15 games. With a total of 767 runs, Rawal has outpaced Lanning's previous record of 707 runs. 

This list also features three English cricketers: Charlotte Edwards, Britt Taylor, and Lauren Watson, who hold the third, fourth, and fifth spots, respectively. Rawal has been India's top batter over the last year, forming a powerful opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana. Despite a few recent low scores in her last two ODI matches, Rawal made a strong comeback with a solid fifty against the defending champions, Australia.

Batting with most runs after 15 ODI matches in women's cricket:

Indian selectors made a bold move by dropping Shafali Verma from the 50-overs format and introducing Pratika Rawal to the ODI setup. Rawal's clear-minded approach, solid footwork, and a strong desire to succeed have made her a brilliant white-ball player. Since her debut in December 2024, the young cricketer has experienced a tremendous rise in her career. With an average of over 50 and a total of 767 runs, Rawal is currently the most in-form Indian women's cricketer as the team prepares for the upcoming Women’s World Cup.

India Women's Playing XI: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Radha Yadav, Shree Charani, Kranti Goud

Australia Women's Playing XI: Alyssa Healy(w/c), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt