WPL 2025: Sneh Rana Replaces Injured Shreyanka Patil at RCB
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Synopsis
Shreyanka Patil is ruled out of WPL 2025 due to injury, leading RCB to sign Sneh Rana as her replacement. Sneh's experience is expected to enhance RCB's spin attack as they navigate challenges in the tournament.
Key Takeaways
- Shreyanka Patil is sidelined for WPL 2025 due to injury.
- Sneh Rana joins RCB as an experienced replacement.
- RCB faces significant challenges with several key players injured.
- RCB successfully started their campaign despite player absences.
- Next match for RCB is against Delhi Capitals.
New Delhi, Feb 15 (NationPress) The off-spinner all-rounder Shreyanka Patil has officially been sidelined for the remainder of the 2025 Women’s Premier League (WPL), prompting the defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) to sign veteran Sneh Rana as her replacement.
Sneh is considered a direct replacement for Shreyanka within the RCB squad, having previously played and captained the Gujarat Giants (GG) in past WPL seasons. She joins the Smriti Mandhana-led franchise for a sum of INR 30 lakh. Her experience will bolster RCB's spin-bowling contingent, which has recently lost its primary spin bowlers.
Shreyanka, who has participated in 15 matches for RCB, taking 19 wickets since 2023, is out for the third edition of WPL due to an injury. She was the top wicket-taker in WPL 2024, securing 13 wickets in eight matches, including an impressive 4-12 in the final against Delhi Capitals, which helped RCB clinch their first title at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Concerns about Shreyanka's participation in WPL 2025 arose when she was absent from the team during the opening leg of the tournament in Vadodara. Sources informed IANS that Shreyanka has been managing a shin injury since last year’s T20 World Cup.
“Sneh had been with the team and was set to be included in the main squad if it became evident that Shreyanka would not be able to play. However, on Saturday, when it was confirmed that Shreyanka would miss the entire WPL 2025, the decision was made to bring in Sneh as her replacement,” the sources elaborated.
Shreyanka's absence compounds RCB's challenges in the bowling department. Prior to their WPL 2025 campaign, they had already lost key players Asha Sobhana and Sophie Molineux due to knee injuries.
Additionally, RCB faced further setbacks with the withdrawal of Sophie Devine (mental health break) and Kate Cross (back injury). Despite missing five core players, RCB successfully chased down 202 runs against the Gujarat Giants to kick off their title defense on a positive note.
Wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh delivered a stellar performance with an unbeaten 26-ball 64, while Kanika Ahuja contributed 30 not out, and Ellyse Perry added 57 runs, helping RCB set a new record for the highest successful chase in WPL history. RCB's next challenge will be against the two-time runners-up Delhi Capitals in Vadodara on Monday.
