Injured Pratika Rawal out of Lord’s Test against England, Priya Punia named replacement

India’s top-order batter Pratika Rawal has been ruled out of the Lord’s Test against England starting Friday. Priya Punia has been drafted in as a replacement and is available for selection immediately.

Rawal sustained the injury while fielding during last week’s second one-dayer against England A in Taunton. She didn’t subsequently come out to bat in India A’s chase of 300.

Head coach Amol Muzumdar said Rawal had a “cut on her knee which required some stitches” while also confirming Punia’s addition to the squad. Uncapped in Test cricket, Punia struck two half-centuries in the three-match A series.

Punia will likely be in a three-way race, along with Harleen Deol and Yastika Bhatia for the No. 3 spot that Rawal occupied in India’s most recent Test outing, in March against Australia. Rawal’s half-century in the second innings had been among the more notable contributions for India in a Test they lost by 295 runs.

The knee injury is the latest mishap in Rawal’s fledgling career, which hit high notes during India’s run to their maiden World Cup title at home last November. After twisting her ankle while fielding against Bangladesh in India’s final league game, she was forced to miss the semi-final and final. Rawal also missed the subsequent WPL season with UP Warriorz.

The one-off Test, India’s second this year, also marks the first time Lord’s hosts a women’s Test. Having been knocked out from the group stages of the T20 World Cup, the Indian team had five days off, before they underwent a five-day prep camp in Wormsley in the lead-up to this Test.

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