New Delhi, November 4, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
India all-rounder Prema Rawat revealed that she, her teammates and the coaching staff had no idea she had created a world record with her breathtaking 14-ball half-century for Uttarakhand in the Senior Women’s T20 Trophy until the match referee informed them after the game.
Prema smashed an unbeaten 50 off just 14 deliveries against Hyderabad in Pune on Monday, becoming the fastest player to score a half-century in women’s T20 cricket. Her knock, featuring six fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 357.14, helped Uttarakhand post 187/2 before bowling Hyderabad out for 98/8 to register an 89-run victory.
The 14-ball effort bettered the previous record of 15 deliveries, jointly held by Marie Kelly, Fatima Sana and Laura Harris, who achieved the feat twice.
Speaking to IANS, Prema said the achievement came as a surprise when match referee Niyati Koustubh Lokur presented her with the Player of the Match award.
“At the presentation ceremony, the referee came and gave the Player of the Match award and told me that it was a world record to get a fifty in 14 balls. That’s how all team members and coaches came to know that it was a world record,” she said.
Prema added that she had not entered the middle thinking about records. Coming in at No. 4 during the 18th over, with Uttarakhand at 129/2, her only objective was to push the team’s total beyond 150.
“The plan was simple — I wanted to play according to the situation. I knew that when I went, there were a few overs left. So, I wanted to score as many runs as possible for the team. I wasn’t thinking about a big score or a record. I was just focusing on every ball and trying to give my best to the team,” she said.
Her assault included three consecutive boundaries against Sakshi Rao and a remarkable finish against Kunchala Niteesha, taking 20 runs from the final four deliveries with two sixes and two fours.
Prema also credited her batting partner Raghvi Bist, who remained unbeaten on 72 off 50 balls, for providing the platform. She described the surface as a good batting pitch and said the two motivated each other to build a formidable total.
The all-rounder completed a memorable performance by taking two wickets for 12 runs with her leg-spin, dismissing G. Kavyasree and N. Kranthi Reddy.
The year has marked a major breakthrough for Prema, who made her India T20I debut in June during the Women’s T20 World Cup match against South Africa in Manchester. She has taken seven wickets in as many international appearances so far.
Her selection came as an injury replacement for Shreyanka Patil while she was preparing for India A matches against England A. Prema said she received the call from the India A team manager and travelled to Manchester to join the national squad.
She recalled her three-wicket haul for nine runs against Pakistan in the Asia Cup group stage in Dubai as one of her most memorable moments in India colours.
Prema also credited her stint with India A, including the Rising Stars Women’s Asia Cup triumph in Thailand, for improving her confidence and understanding of the game. She was also part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s title-winning Women’s Premier League campaigns in 2025 and 2026 and has been retained for the 2027 season.
Away from cricket, Prema celebrated her record-breaking achievement with a cinema outing to watch Rajinikanth’s Jailer 2. She said her family was proud but surprised by the sudden record, while making it clear that cricket remained her priority over suggestions that she take up a government job.
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