No injury is easy, but this one has hit the hardest, says Shreyanka after being ruled out of T20 WC
Manchester, June 20
India off‑spin bowling all‑rounder Shreyanka Patil admitted her latest injury setback has been the 'hardest' to take after a right ankle injury led to her being ruled out of the remainder of the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
During India's Group A clash against the Netherlands at Headingley on Wednesday, Shreyanka was stretchered off the field after twisting her right ankle on the first ball of the sixth over of the Netherlands' innings.
Shreyanka had just come in to bowl and chased a ball towards mid‑on, but went down on the field after twisting her right ankle. She immediately clutched her ankle and winced in pain, with teammates and physio rushing to her aid.
"Well, not every dream comes true. No injury is easy, but this one has hit the hardest. But in these last couple of days, I have been overwhelmed by the love I have received. I have seen so many messages, so many edits, and reels, and I truly appreciate them all.
"I know I have enough of you wishing well for me to get through this as well. Not every dream comes true, but I'm not going to stop dreaming! And like I said last year, "heartbroken, but I will fly again," wrote Shreyanka on her social media accounts on Saturday.
Shreyanka had made a comeback to international cricket from a long injury layoff earlier this year, and had featured in India's win against Pakistan at Edgbaston, where she finished with 0-17 from three overs and took a breathtaking catch.
Shreyanka's absence is a major blow to India, given her effectiveness against left‑handers and her good record of bowling in the death overs. She had been one of the standout performers in the Women's Premier League (WPL), where her economy and strike rate in crunch situations made her a key asset for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
India have now drafted leg-spin bowling all-rounder Prema Rawat as her replacement, and they now face a selection dilemma ahead of their next Group A clash against South Africa at Old Trafford on Sunday.
While Prema offers variety, left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Radha Yadav remains another candidate to fill in the third spinner slot. The Indian team management may also consider tweaks to the pace bowling attack to cover up for the match‑ups Shreyanka specialised in executing seamlessly.
— IANS
Reader Comments
As a fellow athlete, I know how devastating injuries can be, especially when you've worked so hard to come back. Shreyanka's resilience is truly inspiring. She'll be back, no doubt. Wishing her a speedy recovery! 🙏
This is a massive blow for India's campaign. Shreyanka was our trump card against left-handers and in death overs. The management needs to think carefully about who replaces her - Radha Yadav has experience but Prema Rawat could bring a fresh dimension. Tough call.
'Heartbroken, but I will fly again' - that's the spirit, Shreyanka! ❤️🩹 Love how she's focusing on all the positive messages instead of the pain. Indian women's cricket is blessed with such mentally strong players. Get well soon, champ!
While I feel for Shreyanka, I think the team's over-reliance on a few players is concerning. We need to build more depth in the squad. What if someone else gets injured? Still, hope she recovers fully and comes back stronger. The WPL showed her class. 💪
Saw that injury live on TV - it looked really painful 😥 Shreyanka has been through so much already. Love her attitude though - 'not going to stop dreaming'. That's the Indian spirit! Wishing her a speedy recovery and hoping India can still make a strong push in the tournament.
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