How watching highlights of her New Zealand century helped Pratika Rawal answer India’s opening question

Shafali Verma (left) and Pratika Rawal (right) added a 106-run partnership for India. | Photo Credit: X (BCCIWomen)

Who will open with Smriti Mandhana? This was the big question on the lips of those watching along as India set out to chase 198 in the first ODI against Zimbabwe here on Friday.

Smriti, recently appointed full-time skipper, opted to open with Pratika Rawal, sending Shafali Verma to number 3, a spot usually occupied by Jemimah Rodrigues, who is missing due to injury.

The results will have no one complaining, though, with Pratika scoring a solid century and Shafali blitzing away to a half-century, securing a simple win for India in the process.

“Before going in to bat, I saw highlights on the TV of the game against New Zealand (from the 2025 World Cup), and I thought that was the game where I scored my last hundred,” Pratika said after the game.

“Good to be back in the room, always good to score runs and contribute to a team’s victory by batting as long as I can. It was one of those days when the ball went where I wanted it to. Luckily, it turned out really good today,” she added.

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Shafali, barely made for the slow-steady mode, was aware of the limitations of the no. 3 role.

“Of course, I didn’t get that ten-over PowerPlay with just two fielders outside. I just tried to take the singles and I will learn these things. ODIs are testing my patience, but I am really happy to learn,” she quipped.

The win was set up by N. Sree Charani’s career-best figures of four for 23, which included three maiden overs on a pitch that didn’t have much turn for the tweakers.

“I bowled to my strengths. I just focused on my lengths. In our bowling meetings before every game, we work on sticking to the channel and on attacking the stumps. We did that today,” the 22-year-old said.