India Draft Shafali Verma for World Cup Semi-Final Against Australia Amid Pratika Rawal's Injury ###

India have made a crucial call-up for their Women's World Cup semi-final showdown against Australia, replacing Pratika Rawal with Shafali Verma. The change comes after Rawal sustained an ankle injury while fielding during India's final group-stage game against Bangladesh on Sunday.

The injury occurred when the 25-year-old opener, India's second-highest run-scorer in the tournament with 308 runs at an average of 51.33, attempted to stop a boundary on the slippery outfield at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. Unable to bat in the match, her absence left India's top-order lineup in flux.

With Rawal out of contention, India requested a replacement, and their bid to include Shafali Verma was approved by the International Cricket Council's (ICC) event technical committee. Verma, a promising 21-year-old batter, has not featured in a one-day international for India since October 2024 but has been active in India A's 50-over cricket matches recently.

Verma's inclusion brings fresh hope and versatility to India's lineup ahead of the semi-final against Australia on October 30. Her impressive ODI stats, which include 644 runs in 29 innings at an average of 23, highlight her potential to make an impact. While she was initially omitted from India's original World Cup squad, her selection for the semi-final signals her growing importance in the team.

In Rawal's absence, Amanjot Kaur stepped in to open the innings against Bangladesh. Other potential partners for Smriti Mandhana, India's top batter in the tournament, include Uma Chetry and Jemimah Rodrigues, as India look to navigate the loss of their second-highest run-scorer.

The ICC Women's Cricket World Cup semi-finals are set to take place on October 29 and 30. Fans can follow in-play clips, highlights, and ball-by-ball commentary on the BBC Sport website, app, BBC Sounds, and BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

As India prepares for the high-stakes encounter against Australia, the team will need to adapt to the absence of their key opener and hope that Verma can bring the same spark and consistency that has made her a rising star in international cricket.