Shreyanka Patil recalls dark injury phase: Was depressed, wanted to quit cricket

Shreyanka Patil has opened up about the difficult phase she went through during a long injury layoff that kept her out of action for around 16 months and delayed her return to competitive cricket. She initially suffered a fractured finger during the Asia Cup but managed to return in time for India’s campaign at the Women’s T20 World Cup in the UAE in 2024.

However, her comeback was short-lived as she later developed Grade 3 shin splints in both legs, which sidelined her for several months. The injury also ruled her out of the entire WPL 2025 season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Shreyanka eventually made her return to international cricket in the T20I series against Australia earlier this year, where she delivered a strong performance and was named Player of the Match in the series decider at the Adelaide Oval, marking a memorable comeback after a challenging period.

‘I KEPT MY HEAD HIGH’

Shreyanka said that during her difficult injury phase, she struggled mentally and experienced depression, even at times considering stepping away from the sport. However, she chose not to give up and credited her father and family for standing firmly by her side and supporting her through the tough period.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t depressed or that I didn’t think about giving up cricket. That’s how I felt initially during the injury phase. But there was a voice inside me saying, ‘No matter what, I love playing this sport. I’m here only because I love playing it’,” Shreyanka told JioStar after India’s 64-run win over Pakistan on Sunday.

“So, I couldn’t give up on something I love doing. I kept my head high, my dad kept talking to me, and my family supported me throughout. The atmosphere around me and the strong support system I had, I was always surrounded by great people. That kept me going,” Shreyanka added.

Shreyanka had a steady outing against Pakistan at the Edgbaston. Although she went wicketless, she maintained tight control over the batters, finishing with figures of 3-0-17-0 and keeping the scoring in check.

She also made a valuable contribution in the field, taking a sharp diving catch to help Shree Charani dismiss Rameen Shamim. Shreyanka is expected to play a key role for India in the upcoming group-stage matches against Australia and South Africa.

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