Pratika Raval talks about her deep connection with Test cricket after scoring a half-century in the Perth Test against Australia
Pratika Rawal has expressed her deep connection with Test cricket, calling it a format that truly defines the character and resilience of a cricketer. She made her debut in the day-night Perth Test against Australia along with Sayali Satghare, Kranti Gaur and Kashvi Gautam.
After being dismissed by Annabel Sutherland for 18 runs in the first innings, Pratika bounced back to score her maiden Test half-century in the second innings, scoring 63 runs with the help of eight fours. Although India lost this match by 10 wickets.
He credited his father and coaches for emphasizing the importance of excelling in Test cricket from an early age and said that watching legends such as Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting inspired him in this approach.
“Test cricket is one of the most beautiful formats of the game, and I have said it a million times – and I will say it again. As a child, my father and my coaches always told me that this is the format I have to do well in. When you are prepared like this, you naturally start feeling that this is your format and you should be successful in it,” Pratika told PTI.
“I have grown up watching batting videos of legends like Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara and Ricky Ponting and I admire the way they have batted in Test cricket. It is a format that really tests your patience, character, determination and focus.
“It’s a true measure of who you are as a cricketer and whether you have the fighting spirit to survive in a Test match. I can honestly go on and on about this format,” Pratika said.
Pratika demands more tests
Pratika also emphasized that playing more Test cricket benefits the players a lot. The Perth Test was India’s first Test since the home Test against South Africa at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai in July 2024. India are also scheduled to face England in a one-off Test at Lord’s this July.
Pratika highlighted that the experience gained from Test matches not only improves a player’s skills but also their character. He believes that playing more Tests will greatly help in the development and strengthen the overall performance of the team.
“Of course, it goes without saying – the more you play Test cricket, the better you get. The kind of experience you get from playing Test matches makes you a lot better not only as a player but also as a person. So, the more matches we play in this format, the more it will do wonders for us,” said Pratika.
Pratika has mainly made her mark in ODIs for India, scoring 1,189 runs in 89 matches at an average of 47.56, including two centuries and eight half-centuries. She also played a key role in India women’s title-winning campaign by scoring a century against New Zealand in the Women’s World Cup.
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