India’s Pratika Rawal makes her T20I debut against Thailand in the Women’s Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai. Batting after the dismissal of opener Smriti Mandhana, Rawal scores 22 runs off 18 balls, starting her shortest-format international career in the Asia Cup opener.
Both outlets present her rise to the squad as coming after early ODI success. Free Press Journal highlights her background in a cricketing family and her development in domestic cricket for Haryana/Delhi, including notable performances such as a 161* for Delhi and strong returns in the 2023–24 domestic season. It also notes she debuted for India in ODIs in December 2024, including a two-wicket impact in a second ODI appearance and a 154 against Ireland.
Times of India focuses more on her ODI achievements leading into the T20I chance, saying she reaches the 1,000-run milestone in a record 23 innings. Across the reports, the common thread is that Rawal’s domestic and ODI performances earn her the opportunity, with the Asia Cup match against Thailand marking her first T20I cap.