EXCLUSIVE: “Deep Down When You’re True To Yourself, You Are Going To Achieve What You Want To”- Pratika Rawal

When Pratika Rawal received the call-up to don the India jersey, it wasn’t just a dream coming true — it was a vision she had planted in her mind long ago, nurtured through faith, sweat, and sheer willpower. 

In an exclusive interview with Women’s CricInsight, the swashbuckling batter from Delhi shares her thought process and charts out the road ahead.

For a cricketer who blends technical discipline with introspective clarity, her debut for the Indian team is not the culmination of a journey—it’s the genesis of something far greater.

“I’ve visualized a lot of things that I have in my life right now,” she reflects with quiet certainty. “Having that India jersey come into my room in a box—I’ve seen that moment in my mind many times before it actually happened.” 

As a student of psychology, Pratika isn’t merely romanticizing destiny. She sees visualization not as a magical act, but as a companion to effort. “It’s not just going to happen like magic. That work and visualization—they work hand in hand.”

Every night before sleeping, she devotes a few minutes to picture the future she is working towards. “I think of all the things I have to do—practical things. Like if I’m working in the gym to strengthen my hamstrings, I visualize that too. But then I make sure I’m actually doing the work as well.”

This synthesis of vision and action has also shaped her response to setbacks. When asked about not being picked for the Women’s Premier League—a disappointment for many of her admirers—she’s remarkably composed. “To be honest, I just got a call from the India team,” she says with a smile, as if the universe had a better plan. “I was actually talking to my coach, Deepthi, about how lucky we are to have time in the off-season. It’s a blessing in disguise. We don’t often get to work on ourselves.”

“I want to do what’s best for the team” – Pratika Rawal

This refusal to dwell on missed opportunities is rooted in a deep sense of self-awareness. She doesn’t just want to improve as a player; she wants to become someone the team can rely on. “I want to do what’s best for the team. Whether that means accelerating at the top or staying long at the crease—I want to give 200% to whatever role I’m assigned.”

Yet for all the poise and maturity Pratika shows now, her journey began with the most innocent of dreams—a child drawn to cricket not through design, but through discovery.

“I started very young—maybe in third or fourth standard. There was a complex near my house where my dad would take me for walks. One day, I saw a bunch of boys doing shadow practice, all dressed in whites. I told my dad, ‘Can I do this?’ And he said, ‘Of course, if you want to.’ That’s how it started.”

She recalls with a laugh how getting boys out, especially her brother, became her first source of confidence. “I used to play with my siblings and cousins. Every time I bowled, I got them out. I used to say, ‘I’ll get you out!’ Getting boys out was all the more fun!”

From those humble beginnings to playing for Delhi and then making the competitive leap to Railways, every chapter in Pratika’s career has been fuelled by a need to challenge herself.

“Someone told me, if you can make it in the Railways team, that’s a big achievement. So I wanted to see if I was capable enough. The first season, I didn’t get selected. But the next season, I scored 60-65 runs against Railways in a semi-final. They picked me after that.”

And yet, she holds Delhi close to her heart. “Delhi gave me everything. That’s where I started. That’s where I was seen and it will always have a special place in my heart.”

Now contracted with the Railways, Pratika finds herself in an environment that not only pushes her but also supports her in return.

“Cricket has played a huge role in shaping who I am” – Pratika Rawal

“They give us off days to focus on cricket if we’re doing well. The officers are very supportive—whenever I go to the office, there’s always some appreciation. They’ll say, ‘We saw your match. You don’t have to come in. We’ll do your work.’”

For Pratika, cricket is more than a profession. It’s a mirror. “Cricket has played a huge role in shaping who I am. It teaches you about failure, about getting back up when you’re down. I’ve cried so many times because of cricket—but it’s made me more stable, more calm. It teaches you to live in the present and focus on what you can control.”

Yet, she’s quick to point out that cricket isn’t her only identity. “I have other hobbies too. I love psychology. I used to enjoy basketball. Cricket is a big part of me, but there are other aspects that define me too.”

So how does she want to be remembered—years from now, when the innings of her career draws to a close?

“It’s a toughie,” she admits, pausing for thought.

“But I’d like to be remembered as someone who scored a lot of runs. Someone who won matches for India. And also—just a good person. A good person by heart.”

And maybe that’s the most telling thing about Pratika Rawal. Behind the stats and scorecards is a cricketer who sees herself not just in terms of results, but in values. Who knows the power of belief, but never forgets the power of work. A dreamer and a doer. Calm and fire.

She visualized the jersey. She earned it. And she’s only just getting started.

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