IND vs IRE: Pratika Rawal smashes 20-year-old record with maiden WODI ton

Paratika Rawal, after recording back-to-back fifties in the first two matches of the three-match ODI series against Ireland Women, smashed a 20-year-old record with her maiden WODI ton in the third and final game at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on January 15 (Wednesday). 

Rawal, who was playing only her sixth match in international cricket, became the third quickest Indian (by number of matches taken) to score a maiden century in Women’s ODIs. 

She broke Karuna Jain’s record established in 2005 when the Karnataka batter had scored a century in her seventh match while playing against England Women at the Eden Gardens in 2005. 

The quickest Indians to score a WODI century are former India captain Mithali Raj and Reshma Gandhi, both of whom achieved the feat against the same opponent—Ireland. They scored their maiden hundreds in their debut matches. To date, they are the only two Indians to have scored a WODI century on debut. 

A Delhi University graduate and Railways women’s representative, Rawal debuted against the West Indies just a month ago, replacing a much-fancied Shafali Verma at the top of the order. However, within a span of six matches, she established herself as one of the most technically sound batters, being touted to be in the league of Mithali and another top-order batter, Punam Raut. 

Her biggest plus is that even with sound technique, she can score at more than run a ball with ease, not letting anyone feel the vacuum of Verma. With her century, Rawal became the third centurion (After Jemimah Rodrigues and Smriti Mandhana) in this three-match series, making it the third instance of India having three centurions in a WODI series. 

Most 100s in a bilateral series for India in WODIs

3 - India vs South Africa in India, 2024 (3 WODIs)

3 - India vs Ireland in India, 2025 (3 WODIs)

2 - India vs England in England, 1999 ( 1 WODI)

With Mandhana scoring a century in the same game, it became the third occasion when both the Indian openers scored a century in the same ODI. Interestingly, the previous two occasions were also against the same opponents- Ireland.

Instances of both Indian openers scoring a hundred in a WODI innings

Reshma Gandhi (104*) and Mithali Raj (114*) vs Ireland, Milton Keynes, 1999

Deepti Sharma (188) and Punam Raut (109) vs Ireland, Potchefstroom, 2017

Smriti Mandhana (135) and Pratika Rawal (100*) vs Ireland, Rajkot, 2025

Rawal was on a roll when it came to breaking records as the 24-year-old broke several of them during her marathon innings of 154 off just 129 balls. 

Highest score for India in WODIs

188 - Deepti Sharma vs Ireland, Potchefstroom, 2017

171 - Harmanpreet Kaur vs Australia, Derby, 2017

154 - Pratika Rawal vs Ireland, Rajkot, 2025

143* - Harmanpreet Kaur vs England, Canterbury, 2022

138* - Jaya Sharma vs Pakistan, Karachi, 2005

Most runs in first 6 innings ODIs (Men's & Women's) combined 

483 - Janneman Malan

444 - Pratika Rawal*

434 - Charlotte Edwards

406 - Inzamam Ul Haq