India have suffered a significant setback ahead of the one-off women’s Test against England at Lord’s, with opener Pratika Rawal ruled out after sustaining a knee injury during training.

The 25-year-old injured her knee in the lead-up to the match and was subsequently declared unavailable following a medical assessment. Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not disclosed the extent of the injury, Rawal will miss the prestigious fixture at the iconic venue.

India loses a key top-order batter as Pratika Rawal

Rawal has emerged as one of India’s most reliable batters since making her international debut. Her ability to provide solid starts at the top of the order has made her a crucial part of the batting lineup across formats.

Her absence forces the Indian team to rethink its opening combination ahead of a challenging Test against England. The team management is expected to name a replacement from within the squad before the match begins.

India will now rely on other top-order batters to shoulder the responsibility against an experienced England bowling attack in conditions that traditionally favour seamers.

Big occasion at Lord’s

The one-off Test at Lord’s is one of the biggest fixtures in the women’s international calendar and presents India with an opportunity to register a memorable result at the historic venue.

While preparations had gone according to plan, Rawal’s injury has disrupted India’s plans just days before the contest. Losing an in-form opener is a major setback, especially in the longer format where strong partnerships at the top are vital.

The Indian camp will now hope the revised batting unit can adapt quickly and deliver a competitive performance despite the late setback.

For Rawal, attention will now turn to rehabilitation. The medical team will continue to monitor her recovery before taking a call on her return to international cricket. India will also be hoping the injury is not serious enough to keep one of their most promising batters out of action for an extended period.