Is Shreyanka Patil Thriving After 11 Months of Injuries?

New Delhi, Sep 11 (NationPress) As the Barbados Royals prepared for their inaugural match in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL), Shreyanka Patil found herself in tears, but this time they stemmed from a place of relief.

After an arduous 11-month struggle with injuries that seemed never-ending, Shreyanka finally made her return to competitive cricket in the match against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Although her bowling figures were 0-33 in three overs, the numbers were insignificant compared to the joy of being back on the field, doing what she loves most – playing cricket.

Initially anticipated as a quick recovery following the 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup, Shreyanka's absence from the cricket field turned into an extended ordeal. Following India's exit from the semi-finals in the UAE, she developed Grade three shin splints in both legs.

After months of rehabilitation, just as Shreyanka was about to re-enter the game, she faced another setback with a stress reaction in her wrist. Finally, when she was fit and attending a bowlers’ camp at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru in June, she suffered a fractured thumb on her very first day.

Initially selected for the India ‘A’ squad for a T20 series in Australia, she was later excluded from the tour. Now that she is back in action, Shreyanka’s voice reflects a raw honesty that comes only after enduring a long and uncertain journey, realizing she wasn’t alone in her struggles.

“I consider myself to be a bubbly person who enjoys connecting with others. During my time off, I made new friends, shared stories about their lives and cricket, and it dawned on me that I wasn’t the only one facing challenges,” Shreyanka shared.

“Many individuals have their own unique journeys and hurdles to overcome. The camaraderie at NCA allowed us to share our experiences, creating a wonderful community that kept me from feeling isolated.”

“In moments of loneliness, they were always there for me. This experience taught me not to shut myself off and to explore my potential, learn new things, and step outside my comfort zone,” she stated in a virtual interaction with IANS, facilitated by FanCode, the official broadcaster of the WCPL.

When recounting her cyclical battle with injuries, Shreyanka’s voice revealed a rare vulnerability, hinting that she yearned to express her feelings. “At first, I was optimistic – thinking I would recover soon and be back on the pitch. However, as injuries kept recurring, doubts began to cloud my mind: would I ever return to the field?”

“After fracturing my thumb, I was lost. I returned to my room and thought, ‘What is happening?’ I felt uncertain about how to face my parents, especially my dad, and how to communicate with my coach who had always supported me. I felt blank and overwhelmed.”

Shreyanka admitted to having thoughts that athletes seldom voice publicly. “I questioned whether I would ever play again. I even considered quitting cricket altogether. I thought about taking a long break and reconsidering my future in the sport.”

“I'm being honest when I say I contemplated stepping away from cricket to refresh my mind before deciding my next steps,” she revealed.

Before injuries derailed her career, Shreyanka's ascent in cricket was meteoric. At just 20, she debuted in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2023, becoming the first Indian to participate in the WCPL and earning her India cap in both T20Is and ODIs by December.

Her success continued in WPL 2024, where she secured the Purple Cap for being the tournament's top wicket-taker, playing an instrumental role in RCB’s first title win. However, missing WPL 2025 marked a significant low point for Shreyanka.

She had envisioned defending the championship and reveling in the trophy at Brabourne Stadium but instead found herself sidelined as RCB took the field without her, failing to qualify for the playoffs.

When Shreyanka learned she would miss WPL 2025, she was on a flight from Bengaluru to Mumbai for an awards ceremony and broke down at Jemimah Rodrigues' residence. “I could handle missing one tournament, but when I was told I would miss another, I broke down,” she admitted.

“Each time I received that news, I would cry because I hated missing matches. Returning to my room, I felt angry and struggled to express my emotions since it was my first experience of being away from cricket for an extended period. Missing WPL was a harsh blow for me since I wasn’t prepared for it.”

“Day after day, after missing out on one or two tournaments, I kept reminding myself that WPL was my chance to shine and reclaim the trophy. When the physios informed me that I would miss this year’s WPL, I was devastated because I wasn’t ready for it. It took me a good month to recover from that phase,” she reflected.

Alongside her family and coach Arjun Dev, Shreyanka found solace in the support of Jemimah, Smriti Mandhana, and Arundhati Reddy. To escape the monotony of rehabilitation, she took up painting, found comfort in dancing, and utilized a guitar gifted by Jemimah on her birthday as an outlet for creative expression. She also practiced meditation, visualization techniques, and enrolled in an online course.

Perhaps most importantly, she began a diary, where she documented her feelings daily – whether upset, happy, anxious, or grateful, even for the smallest joys, such as watching Wimbledon quietly.

“Those little moments brought me happiness, and that’s when I started to emerge from the darkness. I promised myself not to miss any more tournaments. I had already lost too much time and was determined to return to the field as fit as possible, both mentally and physically,” she expressed.

“I was resolute in my commitment to overcome this challenge. I wanted to fight through it because I longed to be back on the field. I told myself, ‘You must get through this alone, and I did just that,’” she recounted.

Over time, Shreyanka began to accept her circumstances and even forged bonds with fellow cricketers at the CoE. She found strength in the company of Renuka Singh Thakur and Pooja Vastrakar, who were also recovering from injuries, as well as Suryakumar Yadav from the Indian men’s T20I team, who was healing from a sports hernia surgery.

“He’s such a wonderful person. He was with me for about a month during my final rehab phase. Our conversations were enriching; we didn’t solely discuss cricket, but life itself, as he too has faced injuries. He encouraged me to remain patient and always reminded me, ‘Just keep doing what you love, and everything else will fall into place.’”

“His motivation was invaluable. During practice sessions, he would cheer me on and offer assistance in the gym. Having someone like Suryakumar reach out to us made a significant difference,” she noted.

Interactions with Riyan Parag and Mayank Yadav also helped Shreyanka persevere. “Riyan was going through his own struggles, and when I felt low, I would talk to him and admit that I wasn’t having a good day. He would always listen.”

“Mayank had also faced setbacks, and as a fast bowler, it’s challenging to return after a back injury. Conversations with them provided me with a sense of calmness, as I realized I wasn’t alone in this journey,” she concluded.

The 11-month odyssey imparted Shreyanka with lifetime lessons that no coaching manual could teach. She learned to interpret her body’s signals, understanding when to push herself and when to rest, trusting the process, and finding strength in vulnerability. She bore no resentment about missing the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup squad, a possibility she had mentally prepared for.

The 2025 WCPL symbolizes not just a triumphant return for Shreyanka but also the rejuvenation of her cricketing career. The purple cap she once earned in 2023 serves as both a cherished memory and a source of motivation.

“When I was selected by the Barbados Royals, having not played for 11 months, I closed my eyes and reflected on my first year playing. I thought to myself, ‘Maybe this is how it was meant to be.’ I’m starting anew with the WCPL, looking ahead to WPL, India, and beyond. I am grateful to be back on the field, playing cricket once again,” she expressed.

Shreyanka’s return to competitive cricket embodies a journey from despair to hope and from doubt to determination. Each training session, diary entry, and conversation during her rehabilitation represented small victories leading her back to the field.

Now, with the ball in her hand and relishing the feel of donning her gloves before batting, the tears Shreyanka shed prior to her first competitive match in 11 months were not merely tears of joy. They were the tears of a warrior who faced the abyss and remained steadfast in her resolve to return to where she truly belongs – the cricket field.