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India's young opener Pratika Rawal was handed a 10 per cent match fee fine and one demerit point for physical contact with two England players -- Lauren Filer and Sophie Ecclestone -- during the opening match of the ODI series. Rawal accepted the sanctions from match referee Sarah Bartlett and there was no need for a formal hearing. But, the opener has said those shoulder barges were "not intentional".
“It was not intentional. I was just running in my way and that shoulder barge thing was completely out of... It was not deliberate in that sense,” Rawal told the media, as quoted by PTI.
“I don't think there is a (need to have a) reaction to it or maybe (make) a fuss out of it. It was not intentional."
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The 24-year-old scored 36 runs from 51 deliveries in the run chase against Nat Sciver-Brunt's side. She got bowled by left-arm spinner Ecclestone.
India look to whitewash England
After winning the T20I series 3-2, India have a chance to win the ODI series as well. They pulled off their second-highest ODI run chase in series opener and look in good form. Rawal said that the team is taking it one game at a time but the aim is to complete cleasweep and win by 3-0.
“We are taking just one game at a time. Currently, our prime focus is to win this series. To win the next match, we are already up in the series. Our prime focus is to win this series with 3-0, that will be great,” said Rawal.
“Also, what I feel like, keeping one thing at a time, it helps with better focus and better concentration so we are just on that note."
Pratika's stellar ODI record
Rawal has had a good record in ODIs so far. She has 674 runs from 12 games at an average of 61.27, including one century and five half-centuries. She made her debut after Shafali Verma was dropped from the side in December 2024.
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