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India Women have suffered a significant setback ahead of their one-off Test against England after promising opener Pratika Rawal was ruled out of the match due to a knee injury. The injury comes just days before the historic Test begins on Friday, forcing the Indian team management to bring experienced batter Priya Punia into the squad as her replacement.

The update was confirmed by India’s head coach Amol Muzumdar, who revealed that Rawal suffered a deep cut on her knee while playing for India A during a match in Taunton earlier this month. The injury required stitches, and after medical assessment, the team management decided she would not recover in time to participate in the Test match.

Speaking to the media, Muzumdar said that Rawal had sustained the injury during the India A fixture and, despite treatment, had been ruled out of the one-off Test. He confirmed that Priya Punia has been drafted into the squad to replace the young opener.

Rawal’s absence is a major blow for the Indian batting line-up, especially after her impressive introduction to Test cricket earlier this year. The 24-year-old made her Test debut against Australia during the pink-ball Test in Perth, where she showcased remarkable composure against a strong bowling attack. She scored 81 runs across two innings, including an important half-century in the second innings, earning praise for her technique and temperament.

The talented batter has often spoken about her love for the longest format of the game. Earlier this year, Rawal described Test cricket as the “most beautiful format,” saying that her father and coaches always encouraged her to value red-ball cricket from a young age.

She had explained that growing up with that mindset naturally made Test cricket her favourite format. Rawal also credited some of the greatest batters in cricket history for inspiring her approach to the game.

According to the young opener, she regularly watched videos of legendary players such as Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Sir Vivian Richards, and Ricky Ponting, studying the way they built long innings and handled pressure in Test matches. She believes those lessons helped shape her own batting style.

Rawal has also been a strong advocate for increasing the number of women’s Test matches. She previously said that playing more red-ball cricket not only helps players improve technically but also contributes significantly to their personal growth, patience and mental strength.

Unfortunately, this latest injury continues a difficult run of setbacks in her young career. During the Women’s ODI World Cup at home last year, Rawal was enjoying an outstanding tournament before twisting her ankle and being ruled out midway through the competition. She had already scored 308 runs in just six innings before the injury brought her campaign to an early end.

With Rawal unavailable, India will now look towards Priya Punia to strengthen the top order. Punia brings valuable international experience and is regarded as a technically sound batter capable of adapting to challenging conditions. Her inclusion provides the team with additional stability ahead of what is expected to be a demanding contest against England.

The one-off Test holds considerable importance for Indian women’s cricket as the team continues to build its presence in the longest format. India will be aiming to deliver another strong performance overseas despite missing one of its promising young batters.

Team management is expected to finalise the batting combination after assessing conditions and preparing for England’s pace attack. The coaching staff will also hope that senior players step up to fill the gap created by Rawal’s absence.

Meanwhile, medical staff will continue to monitor Rawal’s recovery. Although she misses this Test, there is optimism that the injury is not serious enough to affect her long-term future. Once fully fit, the talented opener is expected to return and continue building on the impressive start she has made to her international career.

India will now shift its complete focus to the one-off Test against England, hoping to overcome the injury setback and produce a strong performance in one of the biggest fixtures of the women’s international calendar.

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