NAVI MUMBAI: With just three days to go before the 2025 Women's ODI World Cup semi-final clash against mighty Australia at the DY Patil Stadium, India faced a major injury scare with one of their key players in the last league match of the tournament against Bangladesh at the same venue on Sunday, which was abandoned due to persistent unseasonal rain.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Opener Prateek Raval, who has been the second highest run-scorer for India after his senior opening partner Smriti MandhanaShe, who scored 308 runs at 51.33 in six matches, including a half-century against Australia and a knock of 122 off 134 balls against New Zealand in the previous match, twisted her ankle while attempting the ball at long-on in the 21st over of Bangladesh's innings. Although she was not dragged off, the 25-year-old was helped off the field by her teammates, and was somehow able to walk, which means it's probably not a fracture.
The BCCI soon released an update on her injury, which read: “Team India all-rounder Pratika Raval suffered a knee and ankle injury while fielding in the first innings against Bangladesh. The BCCI medical team is closely monitoring her progress.”After Pratika was injured, it was all-rounder Amanjot Kaur (15 not out) who opened India's innings along with Mandhana (34 not out, 27b, 6×4) India, chasing 126 in 27 overs as per D/L method in a rain-interrupted match, reached 57 for no loss in the ninth over, before rain interrupted the match for the fifth and final time. Branch. If India are hoping to defeat Australia in the semi-final, they will rely heavily on Mandhana and Pratika's very consistent opening partnership. This is the second injury to a gun player in the Indian camp – explosive 'keeper-bat Richa Ghosh, who hurt her finger in the 55-run win over New Zealand at this venue, was rested for the match, with Uma Chhetri making her WODI debut. Chhetri, 23, is now the first woman cricketer from Assam and the North-East region to play for India. women's world cup,India will be hoping that both Pritika and Richa will recover in time for the semi-final clash.Radha Yadav It took 3-30 to restrict Bangladesh to 119/9 Meanwhile, playing her first game in the tournament, left-arm spinner Radha Yadav grabbed the opportunity with both hands, taking three for 30 in six overs as India restricted Bangladesh to 119 for nine in 27 overs after being asked to bat first. Proving her usefulness as perhaps the best fielder in the team, Radha also hit a brilliant direct hit to the non-striker's end to run out skipper Nigar Sultana (nine off 24 balls).Resuming their innings at 39 for two in 12.2 overs after 135 minutes of long rain, Bangladesh collapsed rapidly, losing seven wickets and adding only 80 runs from 88 balls, with left-arm spinner Sri Charini also taking two wickets for 23 runs in six overs. Apart from Radha, the other display of electric fielding came from the substitute fielder, fast bowler Arundhati Reddy, who moved quickly from deep mid-wicket and bowled the ball forward to catch Bangladesh's top scorer Sharmin Akhtar (36, 43b, 4×4).Despite the threat of the entire match being abandoned at one point due to rain, it was heartening to see around 15,000 spectators still turn out to cheer on the Women-in-Blue at the regular venue of women's international cricket. Since India had already qualified for the semi-finals, the match was inconsequential, but many enthusiastic fans were still present in the stadium, with music playing in the background, and were looking forward to the action resuming.Going forward, there is a threat of rain on the second semi-final and final of the World Cup, both of which will be played in Navi Mumbai, but the good news is that as per ICC rules, there is a reserve day for both the semi-finals and the final. On a gloomy Sunday afternoon, the Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur It was decided to bowl first at the toss, which was delayed by 35 minutes. This was the first toss won by Harmanpreet in ODIs for India Women after eight consecutive defeats – her joint-longest win in this format along with Mithali Raj between February 2006 and July 2006.Earlier, Bangladesh was battling the conditions before the skies opened up again. On the last ball of the first over, Sumaiya Akhtar bowled a wide to Charani at short third, outside the off-stump. Rubya Haider, who scored 13 off 32 balls, had Deepti Sharma, who opened the bowling, caught at mid-off by Harleen Deol. India made three changes to its line-up for this unimportant match. The tournament hosts also decided to give breaks to fast bowler Kranti Gaur and off-spinning all-rounder Sneh Rana while bringing back Amanjot.
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