India’s opening batsman, Pratika Rawal, was eventually seen donning the champion’s medal at the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 after initially being excluded due to ICC regulations. Rawal’s emergence with the medal in an official team photo with President Draupadi Murmu sparked speculation that the ICC might have reconsidered its stance on medal eligibility for injured players.
During the celebratory event at DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai following India’s victory over South Africa in the final match, Rawal, who was in a wheelchair wrapped in the Indian flag, did not initially receive the champion’s medal as she was replaced in the 15-member squad after her injury. Despite her outstanding performances earlier in the tournament, Rawal was sidelined following her injury in the league-stage match against Bangladesh and was subsequently replaced by Shafali Verma before the semifinals.
A pivotal moment occurred when the team met President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In a later released group photo, Rawal could be seen proudly wearing her medal, a moment that many interpreted as the ICC flexing its rules to recognize her role.
While neither the ICC nor the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made an official statement, the gesture has been widely embraced by fans and cricket personalities. This incident isn’t the first time a significant contributor missed out on a champion’s medal. In the 2003 Men’s ODI World Cup, Australia’s Jason Gillespie faced a similar fate, being unrecognized with a medal despite his notable performance before being sidelined due to injury during the tournament.
Before the meeting with the President, the Indian women’s cricket team also visited Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Lok Kalyan Marg. During the interaction, the players presented him with a team jersey signed by all members of the World Cup-winning squad.