Indian women’s cricketer Shreyanka Patil has opened up about trolling over her social media videos and dance reels. Speaking to India Today’s Rajdeep Sardesai at the Karnataka Roundtable on August 26, she said she does not see criticism as negative. Shreyanka said she enjoys Instagram, dancing and wearing the clothes she wants.
“I mean, honestly, it gives me a lot of attention. People are actually seeing me and saying, ‘Oh, she’s doing so well.’ Whether you troll me, criticise me or appreciate me, I think it’s all for my good. I don’t see trolls as trolls because I love what I’m doing. I love being on Instagram, I love dancing, and I love wearing the dresses I want to wear,” Shreyanka said.
“I’m not shy about saying that because I’m comfortable with who I am. I’m comfortable dancing to any song and doing what makes me happy. I love doing what I love, and trolls are just going to remain trolls. They’re probably just jealous that I’m doing well,” Shreyanka said.
Shreyanka has also gone through a difficult period in her cricket career. She returned to international cricket earlier this year after a gap of around 16 months, but suffered another ankle injury in June that ruled her out of the Women’s T20 World Cup in England. During this period, she spoke to her coach, Arjun Dev, about quitting cricket.
“Actually, what changed my life after this injury was watching Operation Safed Sagar. After the injury during the World Cup, I told my coach, who was sitting right here, that I didn’t want to play cricket anymore. I was done with it. I kept asking myself, ‘Why me? Why am I getting injured so many times?’ I don’t want to get emotional, but those feelings are still inside me. I wondered why I should play cricket just to keep getting injured,”Shreyanka said.
Watching Operation Safed Sagar, starring Jimmy Shergill, Vinay Pathak and others, changed her view of the situation. Shreyanka said the series helped her value the chance to return to the field after a bad day and continue playing the sport she loves. It gave her a different way to look at her setbacks.
“But then I watched this series, and it completely changed my perspective. I realised that there, even with one second here and there, you can give your life for your country. But here, whether you fail or do well, you can wake up and play on the field again. There’s nothing like that—you can have a bad day and still wake up and play the same sport you love,” Shreyanka added.
Shreyanka has not played any cricket for the last two months and will miss the upcoming Women’s Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. However, she has been named in India’s squad for the Asian Games later this year in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Her selection is subject to fitness.
Since making her international debut in December 2023, Shreyanka has played three ODIs and 24 T20Is, taking 34 wickets. At the domestic level, she has been part of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Women’s Premier League title-winning teams in 2024 and 2026. She also won the Purple Cap in 2024 despite missing matches because of injury.
Shreyanka has also represented Guyana Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League. Her journey has included success as well as difficult injury periods. She is waiting to return to cricket while continuing her recovery and looking ahead to her opportunity online to play.
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