Railways promotes injured star Pratika Rawal to officer rank after World Cup heroics

The Ministry of Railways has rewarded injured batter Pratika Rawal with a promotion after her heroics in the Women's ODI World Cup 2025. Pratika, who formed a steady opening partnership with Smriti Mandhana throughout the tournament, revealed the news on Monday, December 1. She also shared her promotion letter, which stated that she had been elevated to the position of Officer on Special Duty.

An elated Rawal thanked the Railway Ministry for recognising her efforts in the World Cup. She said that her employers had always been very supportive of her ambitions and commitments, and that this support had played an important role in the growth of her career.

"Approval of the Ministry of Railways is hereby communicated for grant of Out of Turn Promotion to Ms. Pratika Rawal, Senior Clerk, Northern Railway, to the Group B Gazetted post of Officer on Special Duty (Sports) in Level 8 in the Pay Matrix (7th CPC) in recognition of her performance in the ICC Women's One-Day Cricket World Cup 2025," the Railways letter said.

"Accordingly, Northern Railway may take immediate necessary action for promotion of Ms. Pratika Rawal, Senior Clerk, to the Group B



Gazetted post of OSD (Sports) by utilising an element of Sports or any other Group B post on Northern Railway," it added.

Pratika hit one fifty and one hundred during India's World Cup campaign. She got starts in every single game and added crucial runs at the top of the order. Rawal had been criticised for failing to rotate strike earlier in the tournament, but she silenced her critics with an exceptional 122 against New Zealand, a knock that effectively sealed India's place in the semi-final.

After playing her career-best innings, Pratika was injured while fielding in India's final group-stage match, an incident that unfortunately ruled her out of the remainder of the World Cup.

Pratika was replaced by Shafali Verma for the last two matches of the tournament. The forced change ended up benefiting India, as Shafali won the Player of the Match award in the final against South Africa.

Pratika was present at the Navi Mumbai stadium to cheer for the team. Even though she was on a wheelchair, she continued to support the side with full enthusiasm and did not let her injury stop her from celebrating India's maiden World Cup victory.