Pratika Rawal receives her Women’s World Cup medal:India batter’s father confirms ICC President Jay Shah’s intervention after medal confusion

India batter Pratika Rawal has received her Women’s World Cup 2025 winner’s medal following direct intervention from ICC President Jay Shah, her father Pradeep Rawal confirmed. Pratika, who was part of India’s original World Cup squad, had been ruled out of the tournament after twisting her ankle during the final group match against Bangladesh. She was replaced by Shafali Verma, who later delivered a brilliant all-round performance in the final against South Africa to help India secure a 52-run victory and lift the trophy at the Dr DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. During the post-final celebrations, Pratika was seen in a wheelchair but without a winner’s medal, as she was no longer part of the final 15-member squad- the only group eligible for medals under ICC rules. However, she was later spotted wearing the medal during the team’s meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu, leading to widespread confusion on social media. Pratika received the medal before meeting Prime Minister Modi Her father has now clarified that it was Jay Shah who personally intervened to ensure Pratika received her rightful medal. “Jay Shah personally texted us and said that he had spoken to the ICC, and that we would receive the medal. Pratika received the medal before meeting Prime Minister Modi. Jay Shah took the initiative himself and personally informed Pratika,” Pradeep Rawal told IndiaToday.in. Neither the ICC nor the BCCI has issued an official statement, but the move has been widely appreciated by fans and experts. Before her injury, Pratika played a key role in India’s campaign, helping the team reach the semi-final stage. Despite missing the knockout matches, she finished as India’s second-highest run-scorer, with 308 runs in six innings.