Indian Women's world cup winning squad met PM Narendra Modi and gifted "Namo" signed Team India's Jersey to him (Source: All India Radio News/X)

Pratika Rawal, who was initially denied a World Cup winner’s medal due to International Cricket Council (ICC) regulations, was later seen proudly wearing it in a photograph with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite being the second-highest run-scorer for India in their historic Women’s World Cup triumph, the opening batter had originally missed out on the medal presentation.

During the victory celebrations at the DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai last Sunday, Rawal was seen arriving in a wheelchair, draped in the Indian tricolour but notably without the winner’s medal. However, a team photograph with Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday evening told a different story, as Rawal was spotted wearing the coveted medal, suggesting that the ICC had made an exception to honour her outstanding contribution to the team’s success.

Prime Minister Modi hosted the Indian women’s cricket team at his official residence on Lok Kalyan Marg to celebrate their remarkable triumph on home soil.

The players, dressed in formal attire and proudly wearing their medals, posed for a memorable photograph with the Prime Minister, one in which Rawal was finally seen adorned with her well-deserved medal.

According to ICC regulations, medals are awarded only to players named in the final 15-member squad for the tournament. Rawal, though part of the original team, was ruled out due to injury sustained during the washed-out league match against Bangladesh, leading to her replacement by Shafali Verma before the semifinal.

This is not the first time a player has missed out on a medal despite significant contributions. During the 2003 Men’s ODI World Cup, Australian pacer Jason Gillespie suffered a similar fate after taking eight wickets before injury forced him out.

Despite her setback, Rawal’s performance in the tournament was exceptional. She amassed 308 runs, including a century and a fifty, proving her class on the world stage, and ensuring her name will be remembered as one of the key architects of India’s historic victory.

"I can't express it enough. There's no words.

It's not going to come out of my mouth. This flag on my shoulder means a lot to me. And you know, being here with my team, it's just surreal," Rawal said after watching India win the World Cup from the Navi Mumbai stands as quoted by Hindustan Times.

"To be very honest, it was very difficult for me to sit down and watch the match because it's actually very difficult. It's very easy to play inside rather than watching from the outside. But seeing this energy, seeing this environment, it just gave me goosebumps. Whenever there was a wicket, whenever there was a sixer, you know, you can see the energy.

It's amazing," she added.