Pratika Rawal Ruled Out of Lord's Test, Priya Punia Joins India Women's Squad

India have suffered a major setback ahead of the historic women's Test against England at Lord's, with opening batter Pratika Rawal ruled out of the one-off match due to injury. The 25-year-old injured her knee while playing for India A against England A in Taunton last week. The cut required stitches, and the team management has decided not to risk her for the Test.

Head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed the news during the pre-match press conference on Wednesday, July 8. He also announced that Priya Punia has been added to the squad as Rawal's replacement. India will now have to make changes to their batting order ahead of the much-awaited contest at the iconic Lord's Cricket Ground.

Rawal's absence is a big blow for India because she has become one of the team's most reliable batters over the past year. Since making her international debut, she has scored important runs in different formats and has quickly become a regular member of the side. Her calm approach and ability to build innings have strengthened India's top order.

Earlier this year, Rawal made her Test debut against Australia at the WACA in Perth. She celebrated the occasion by scoring her maiden Test half-century in the second innings. She was also part of India's successful ODI World Cup campaign last year and scored a brilliant century against New Zealand before an injury ended her tournament.

Priya Punia Set to Replace Injured Rawal at Lord's

The Lord's Test was expected to be another important milestone in Rawal's young career. Instead, India will now look to Priya Punia to fill the opening spot. With a historic match ahead, the visitors will hope Punia can make the most of the opportunity and give the team a solid start.

Punia has earned her place in the squad after performing well for India A during the England tour. The left-handed batter finished as India's highest run-scorer in the one-day series, scoring 171 runs at an average of 57. Her best score was 87, and her consistent performances impressed the selectors.

The call-up also marks Punia's return to the Indian team after more than one and a half years. She last represented India during the Australia tour in December 2024. Since making her international debut in 2019, Punia has played 12 ODIs and three T20Is, but has often moved in and out of the national side.

India will head into the Lord's Test looking to end their England tour on a positive note. Harmanpreet Kaur's team recently lost the T20I series 1-2 and also suffered a group-stage exit at the Women's T20 World Cup. A strong performance in the one-off Test would be the perfect way for India to finish the tour despite missing one of their key batters.

India Women's Squad

 India Women Tour of England 2026 – Only Test Schedule