Women's T20 WC: Shreyanka Patil ruled out, Prema Rawat named replacement
Synopsis
Shreyanka Patil's Women's T20 World Cup 2026 is over — a right ankle twist in the Netherlands match ends a comeback that was already a story of grit over adversity. Uncapped Prema Rawat, who took eight wickets at 9.62 in the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars, now gets her first senior international call-up with India still unbeaten and a South Africa clash looming.
Key Takeaways
Shreyanka Patil has been ruled out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 after twisting her right ankle on 19 June during the match against the Netherlands .
Uncapped leg-spinner Prema Rawat , 24 , has been officially approved as her replacement by the ICC Event Technical Committee .
Prema claimed 8 wickets at an average of 9.62 for India A in the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars and has played 6 WPL matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru .
Shreyanka had only recently returned to international cricket after a prior injury, having bowled 0-17 against Pakistan in this tournament.
India remain unbeaten in Group A and face South Africa on Sunday in Manchester .
Shreyanka Patil has been ruled out of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 after twisting her right ankle during India's Group A match against the Netherlands in Dubai on Wednesday, 19 June. Uncapped leg-spinner Prema Rawat has been officially approved as her replacement by the ICC Event Technical Committee.
How the Injury Unfolded
The incident occurred on the first ball of the sixth over of the Netherlands' innings. Shreyanka, having just come on to bowl, chased a ball towards mid-on and went down clutching her right ankle in visible pain. Teammates rushed to her aid and she was subsequently stretchered off the field, ending her tournament on the spot.
This comes as a particularly cruel blow given that Shreyanka had only recently made her comeback to international cricket after recovering from a previous injury earlier this year. In India's win against Pakistan at this tournament, she had returned figures of 0-17 from three overs.
Who Is Prema Rawat
The 24-year-old leg-break bowler from Uttarakhand arrives in the squad with strong recent credentials. She claimed eight wickets at a remarkable average of 9.62 for India A in the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament. In the Women's Premier League (WPL), she has featured in six matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru over two seasons, picking up three wickets. Domestically, she played a pivotal role in Uttarakhand's triumph in the senior women's championship.
Notably, Prema remains uncapped at the senior international level, making this a significant step up. Her selection reflects the national selectors' confidence in her ability to perform under pressure on a global stage.
ICC Approval and Official Statement
The ICC confirmed the replacement in an official statement: 'The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Prema Rawat as a replacement for Shreyanka Patil in the India squad. The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad.'
Shreyanka's Journey and Mental Battles
The off-spinner's exit is particularly poignant given the personal narrative she had built around her comeback. Earlier this year, following her 2026 WPL title win with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Shreyanka publicly spoke about the mental toll of recurring injuries, admitting she had battled thoughts of quitting the game entirely. She credited her family and support system for helping her persevere — making this latest setback all the more difficult.
India's Tournament Position
Despite the injury setback, India remain unbeaten in Group A, having defeated both Pakistan and the Netherlands. Their next fixture is against South Africa on Sunday in Manchester, where the management will need to recalibrate their spin attack in the absence of Shreyanka.
Point of View
However talented, underlines the gap between India A promise and senior-squad readiness. More broadly, Shreyanka's recurring injury pattern raises questions about workload management at franchise level: the WPL calendar is expanding, and the physical cost is increasingly visible on the national team's injury list. India's spin-bowling stocks will face a real test against South Africa, a side that has historically handled spin better than pace.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Shreyanka Patil been ruled out of the Women's T20 World Cup 2026?
Shreyanka Patil has been ruled out after twisting her right ankle during India's Group A match against the Netherlands on 19 June in Dubai. She was stretchered off the field and subsequently withdrawn from the tournament squad.
Who is Prema Rawat, India's replacement for Shreyanka Patil?
Prema Rawat is a 24-year-old uncapped leg-spinner from Uttarakhand. She took eight wickets at an average of 9.62 for India A in the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars and has featured in six WPL matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Has the ICC officially approved Prema Rawat's inclusion?
Yes. The ICC Event Technical Committee formally approved Prema Rawat as Shreyanka Patil's replacement, as required under tournament regulations before a player can be added to a squad.
How has India performed in the Women's T20 World Cup 2026 so far?
India are unbeaten in Group A, having defeated both Pakistan and the Netherlands. They face South Africa on Sunday in Manchester.
What is the significance of Shreyanka Patil's injury given her recent history?
Shreyanka had only recently returned to international cricket after recovering from a previous injury earlier this year. She had publicly spoken about the mental toll of repeated injuries and nearly quitting the game, making this latest setback especially difficult.
