24-year-old Indian opener Pratika Rawal entered her name in the history books on Tuesday (April 29) by becoming the fastest batter in the world to score 500 runs in women’s ODI cricket. The right-handed batter from Delhi, who made her ODI debut for India against the West Indies in December 2024, needed only 8 innings to cross the 500-run mark in the 50-over format of the game. Rawal opened the innings for India on Tuesday against South Africa during the second match of the ongoing tri-nation series currently underway at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo and scored 78 runs from 91 balls. During her stay at the crease, she hammered seven fours and one six and helped India post a total of 276 runs on the board for the loss of six wickets in 50 overs after captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and opted to bat first. During her 78-run mark, when Pratika crossed the six-run mark by taking a single on the first ball of the fourth over of India’s innings bowled by Masabata Klaas, she completed 500 runs in women’s ODI cricket. She needed only eight innings to achieve the feat. Before Pratika, the record of being the fastest batter in the world to score 500 runs in women’s ODI cricket was held by former England captain and current head coach Charlotte Edwards. Edwards crossed the 500-run mark in her ninth innings. In the elite list, Rawal and Edwards are followed by Scotland’s Kathryn Bryce (10 innings), Australia’s Nicole Bolton and Thailand’s Natthakan Chantham (11 innings each) and Australia’s Belinda Clark, who needed 12 innings to complete 500 runs in women’s ODI cricket. Fastest to 500 runs in women’s ODI cricket Pratika Rawal Charlotte Edwards Kathryn Bryce Nicole Bolton Natthakan Chantham Belinda Clark Among Indians, before Rawal, legendary Mithali Raj was the quickest to score 500 runs in women’s ODI cricket. She reached there in 13 innings. The 24-year-old cricketer from Delhi is overall the second fastest cricketer in the world to score 500 runs in ODI cricket. South Africa’s Janneman Malan reached the milestone in only seven innings. Rawal, however, became the fastest Indian by breaking Shubman Gill’s record. Gill scored his 500th ODI run back in October 2022 in his 10th innings. Pratika’s performance in ODIs Pratika made her ODI debut for India on December 22, 2024, in Vadodara against the West Indies and scored 40 runs. In her next two ODIs, she made 76 and 18 runs against the Women in Maroon. The right-handed batter then opened the innings for India in the three-match ODI series against Ireland at home and registered scores of 89, 67 and 154. Pratika Rawal’s ODI batting career STRIKE RATE West Indies December 22, 2024 West Indies December 24, 2024 West Indies December 27, 2024 January 10, 2025 January 12, 2025 January 15, 2025 Colombo (RPS) April 27, 2025 South Africa Colombo (RPS) April 29, 2025 In the first ODI of the ongoing tri-series, Pratika remained unbeaten on 50 runs and helped the Harmanpreet Kaur-led team win the match by 9 wickets.