​NEW DELHI: Priya Punia has earned her first-ever Test call-up for India after opener Pratika Rawal was ruled out of the one-off women’s Test against England at Lord’s due to a knee injury. The Women’s Selection Committee announced Punia as Rawal’s replacement after she failed to recover in time for the match, which gets underway on Friday.
Head coach Amol Muzumdar confirmed the development ahead of the encounter. “Pratika has been ruled out of the Test match due to her injury in the India A game. She sustained a cut on her knee that required stitches. She is out for the Test, and Priya Punia has been added to the squad,” Muzumdar stated.
Priya Punia, born in Jaipur, Rajasthan, is a right-handed top-order batter who can also bowl right-arm medium pace. At 29, she has represented India in limited-overs formats but is still awaiting her Test debut. Punia first appeared for India in a T20 International against New Zealand on February 6, 2019. Since then, she has played in both ODIs and T20Is for the national team.
Punia’s selection for the one-off Test against England follows a standout performance for India A against England A. She struck 23 in the opening match and followed it with 87 and 61 in the next two games, finishing as India A’s highest run-scorer in the three-match ODI series with 171 runs. Her contributions helped India A secure a 2-1 series victory.
In her international career so far, Punia has amassed 12 Women’s ODI appearances, scoring 273 runs at an average of 27.30, with a best of an unbeaten 75 and two half-centuries. In Women’s T20 Internationals, she has featured in three matches, tallying nine runs. Punia now joins a familiar India lineup for the Lord’s Test, as the team looks to challenge England on English soil.
For the upcoming Test, India’s squad features a strong blend of experienced and rising players, with Harmanpreet Kaur captaining the side and Smriti Mandhana serving as vice-captain. The lineup also includes Shafali Varma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wicketkeeper), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (wicketkeeper), Nandini Sharma, Harleen Deol, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Sayali Satghare, Sneh Rana, and Priya Punia, forming a balanced unit capable of challenging England in their home conditions.
Priya Punia’s inclusion adds batting depth and versatility to India’s top order, offering the team an option to anchor the innings while providing a left-right balance in the batting lineup. Punia’s exposure in international limited-overs cricket and her impressive performances for India A against England A position her well to make an impact in the one-off Test at Lord’s. As India prepare to face England, Punia’s role could be pivotal in setting a solid foundation and contributing valuable runs in a format where patience and technique are essential.
Note: This article emphasizes Punia’s rise, the circumstances around Rawal’s injury, and the strategic implications for India’s one-off Test at Lord’s, while highlighting Punia’s prior international experience, domestic background, and performance in the India A series against England A. It is crafted for clarity, SEO relevance, and a comprehensive overview of the milestone for Priya Punia’s Test call-up.