Pratika Rawal has expressed a profound connection with Test cricket, describing it as the format that truly defines a cricketer’s character and resilience. She made her debut in the Day-Night Perth Test against Australia, alongside Sayali Satghare, Kranti Gaud, and Kashvee Gautam.
After being dismissed for 18 in the first innings by Annabel Sutherland, Pratika bounced back to score her maiden Test fifty in the second innings, making 63 runs with eight fours, though India lost the match by 10 wickets.
She credited her father and coach for emphasising the importance of excelling in Test cricket from an early age, and said that watching legends like Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, and Ricky Ponting inspired her approach.
“Test cricket is one of the most beautiful formats the game has to offer, and I’ve said that a million times – and I’ll say it again. As a child, my father and my coach always told me that this was the format I had to do well in. When you are groomed that way, you naturally begin to feel that this is your format and that you must succeed in it,” Pratika told PTI.
“I grew up watching batting videos of legends like Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting, and I admired the way they batted in Test cricket. It is a format that truly tests your patience, character, determination and focus.
“It is the perfect measure of who you are as a cricketer and whether you have the fighting spirit to survive in a Test match. I can honestly go on and on about this format,” Pratika said.
PRATIKA BATS FOR MORE TESTS
Pratika also emphasised that playing more Test cricket benefits players immensely. The Perth Test was India’s first since the home Test against South Africa in July 2024 at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. India are also scheduled to face England in a one-off Test at Lord’s this July.
Pratika highlighted that the experience gained from Test matches improves not only a player’s skills but also their character. She believes that playing more Tests will significantly aid development and strengthen the team’s overall performance.
“Of course, it goes without saying – the more Test cricket you play, the better it is. The kind of experience you gain from playing a Test match improves you immensely, not just as a player but as an individual as well. So, the more matches we play in this format, the more it will do wonders for us,” Pratika added.
Pratika has primarily made her mark in ODIs for India, amassing 1,189 runs in 89 matches at an average of 47.56, including two centuries and eight half-centuries. She also played a crucial role in India Women’s title-winning campaign at the Women’s World Cup, scoring a century against New Zealand.
