Team India’s young opener Pratika Rawal was recently spotted wearing the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 winner’s medal during her meeting with President Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi. The photo of Rawal with the medal quickly went viral on social media, leaving many fans curious about how she received it, given that she had missed the semifinal and final due to injury.
Pratika Rawal confirms Jay Shah intervened and told the ICC to give Pratika her own medal. (News18).
– A great gesture from the ICC Chairman! pic.twitter.com/4aLdlmhmpJ---Advertisement---— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) November 7, 2025
How Pratika Got Her World Cup Medal
The viral image was taken during an official team photograph with the President after India’s historic Women’s World Cup 2025 triumph. Many assumed the ICC had changed its rules to include injured players in medal distribution, but the real story is even more heartwarming.
Speaking to CNN-News18, Pratika revealed that ICC Chairman Jay Shah personally made sure she received her medal.
“Jay Shah texted our manager saying he wanted to make arrangements to get a medal for me,” Pratika said. “When I finally held it for the first time, I almost had tears in my eyes. I’m not someone who cries easily, but that moment was very emotional.”
Jay Shah’s Promise to Pratika
Pratika further shared that Jay Shah had already assured her she would get her medal soon, even if it took some time to arrive from the ICC.
“Jay Shah told us he was requesting the ICC to send me a medal. Since it would take a while, one of our support staff gave me their medal to wear for now. I was told to consider it my own until the official one arrives,” she said with a smile.
A Story of Spirit and Recognition
Pratika Rawal got injured during India’s last group match against Bangladesh, which didn’t affect the team’s qualification for the semifinals. After her injury, the BCCI named Shafali Verma as her replacement for the knockout games.
India went on to defeat South Africa in a thrilling final to win their first-ever ICC Women’s World Cup title.
Even though Pratika couldn’t play in the semifinal or the final, she had already played an important role in India’s success earlier in the tournament. Jay Shah’s kind gesture made sure her contribution didn’t go unnoticed.
As India celebrates this historic victory, Pratika’s story reminds everyone that cricket isn’t just about winning matches – it’s also about team spirit, recognition, and standing by your teammates through every moment.
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