Image source– Shreyanka Patil Twitter/ X handle
There’s a thing about the Pioneers. They are made different. People never forget about them. The same has been the case with an extraordinary young Shreyanka Patil, who became the first Indian cricket to feature in the Caribbean Premier League last year and even before making her India debut, which showcases nothing but her explicit skillset.
The Last year has been a fruitful one for the off-break bowling all-rounder, as she helped the Indian team win the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup and also brought glory to Royal Challengers Bangalore, helping them win the WPL 2024 Trophy, which was the first-ever trophy for the established franchise.
Now that Shreyanka has also made her India debut, there’s no doubt that she will create a long-lasting impact while donning the Blue.
Road To The Indian Women’s Team
Being a daughter of a Cricket coach, Shreyanka developed her interest in cricket quite early. Her father was there for her every step of the way and guided her to his own cricket academy in Bangalore. Making her debut for Karnataka Senior Women’s team in the year 2019, Shreyanka got exposure and a chance to grow quite early. She displayed her skills with the bat when she hammered 73 runs against Arunachal Pradesh in a List A game, which helped her seal a place in the inaugural season of the Women’s Premier League.
Shreyanka showed promise with her all-round abilities picking up six wickets and scoring crucial runs at the backend of the innings in seven games.
Her commitment towards the sport was enough to secure her a place in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League and she became the first Indian women’s cricketer to play in the WCPL. Well, she did not just play but also became the Leading wicket-taker of the Tournament picking up nine wickets.
Rising to prominence, the young off-spinner was called to represent India in the Emerging Teams Asia Cup. And yet again, she stunned everyone with her performance, where she scalped nine wickets in just two games, including a four-wicket haul in the Final against Bangladesh-A team.
These performances were enough to secure her a place in the senior India Women’s team and she has already picked 16 wickets in 12 WT20I games and 5 in 3 WODIs. Undoubtedly, she will be much more effective and learn from the great Deepti Sharma playing alongside her.
Why is Shreyanka Patil is one of a Kind?
Apart from her off-break bowling skills, she has been an amazing smasher of the ball, which is evident from her domestic and WPL performances. Whether to spend time in the middle or score runs quickly, Shreyanka has the capability to perform in an extraordinary manner.
Well, she is much more than just bowling and batting, as she has been one terrific fielder as she saved a brilliant shot just inches away from the boundary which came from the bat of Hayley Mathews, which proves her athleticism and commitment on the field.
In the WPL 2024, she emerged as the Purple Cap winner with 13 scalps under her kitty, including a four-wicket haul in the Final against Delhi Capitals.
As we inch closer to the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Harmanpreet and India are fortunate enough to have a 3D player like Shreyanka, who can be a game-changer and could also help India win the championship. Shreyanka’s journey is not just a personal milestone but a significant step forward for Indian women’s cricket, signalling the rise of a new era where young talent is not only recognized but celebrated on global platforms.
Shreyanka Patil is poised to be the future of Indian women’s cricket, and this is just the beginning.
