Shreyanka Patil has carved out a niche for herself as a talented bowling all-rounder, particularly with her off-spin. In the 2nd season of Women’s Premier League (WPL), she was the leading wicket-taker, earning herself the purple cap by collecting 13 wickets including four in the final against Delhi Capitals, leading the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to the title.
In a recent podcast episode with her WPL franchise, RCB, Shreyanka Patil shared her emotional journey from the WPL auctions to her experiences in the RCB dressing room.
Shreyanka Patil described her experience during the WPL auctions, sharing that when her number and name, 317 Shreyanka Patil, were called out, she crossed her fingers in anticipation. She felt shocked and closed her eyes, hoping someone would lift the bid. The process was moving quickly, with bids being called unsold or sold at a fast pace. When RCB lifted the bid, she was relieved. The moment left her blank, and it wasn’t until five minutes later that she started crying, overwhelmed by the reality of it. She received numerous calls and had to switch off her phone for a while. She was emotional, and Arjun Sir, who was beside her, had tears in his eyes. He hugged her and said this was the moment they had been waiting for.
“RCB lift. And I was like, okay, stop it, stop it. And they said, sold to RCB. Everyone will jump. Some people will jump. Some people will cry. And I was like, just blank. And then after five minutes, I started crying. I was like, I don’t know whether it’s true, whether it’s really happening, whether to believe that it’s happened.”
Patil recounted her excitement upon entering the RCB dressing room, feeling like a fangirl when she got picked and was thrilled about getting the team room, attire, and shoots. She was especially eager to experience what the men’s team had. When she arrived in Mumbai, she explored the dressing room, played table tennis, and captured videos to show her equally delighted parents. Patil felt a deep sense of belonging and appreciated how RCB welcomed her like a family member, making the experience special.
“I think I was still a fangirl when I got picked. I was still acting like a fangirl. I was like, okay fine, we are gonna get a team room, we will have our own attire, we will have those shoots. I was super excited, okay fine, now I am gonna get a glimpse of what the men’s team have got.”
She further added, “I just felt so happy to belong to this place and RCB just welcomed me like their own family member, and that was a special feeling.”
Patil then shared an interesting story about how her off-spin journey began. She initially didn’t start as an off-spinner but as a medium pacer. Like many, she tried bowling medium pace first to see what felt natural. She also experimented with wicket-keeping and leg-spin, both of which didn’t work out for her. Off-spin was her last resort, and when she discovered it felt very special. As she began bowling off-spin, she found it enjoyable. Her coaches and her dad, who was also an off-spinner, helped her work on her action. Off-spin came naturally to her, unlike the other roles she tried. Her dad advised her to stick with it as it felt natural.
“The last resort was off-spin, and I felt this is something very special. Off-spin is something which I liked when I started bowling. It was fun. Then my coaches and my dad, who was also an off-spinner, started working on my action and everything. It came very naturally to me; I didn’t have to force myself as I did with medium pace, wicket-keeping, or leg spin. My dad said, ‘Just stick to it. If it’s natural, just stick to it. It’s a good thing.’ So that’s how it started.”
Shreyanka Patil shared her mantra, emphasizing the importance of being true to oneself in any situation, whether it’s a high-pressure moment or an easy one. She believes in not faking it and simply being herself, enjoying each moment to the fullest because it’s uncertain if such moments will come around again. She also stresses the importance of being grateful for what one has and thanking God for all blessings.
“I just feel, I keep telling myself be yourself in any given situation whether you been thrown into a pressure situation or whether it also easy one just be yourself”
Patil also highlighted the importance of mental health support for athletes, noting that receiving professional help early on can be incredibly beneficial. Despite her young age, she has already consulted a psychologist, recognizing the need to be mentally strong in sports. She believes that early intervention can help athletes understand the game better and respond to various situations more effectively, benefiting them in the long run.
“I think now it’s the time because once you take up this sport and you have achieved something at this young age you also have to know how mentally you have to be strong, so if you can get the help as early as possible nothing like it because its gonna help you out in coming ages, so if not now maybe in two-three years you will understand what the concept is about and also you will understand the game even better and also start reacting to situations in a different way.”
When asked about her ultimate dream in cricket, Shreyanka Patil expressed her ambition to win the World Cup and secure a gold medal in the Olympics when the opportunity arises. She emphasized the importance of sticking to one’s process regardless of performance outcomes, believing that consistent dedication to the process yields results over time.
“For me personally, it’s to win the World Cup, and when the Olympics come into the picture, a Gold medal for sure. But I feel in all of this, you shouldn’t forget your process, what you have been doing so far. Whether you do well or you don’t do well, I think if you stick to your process, the result will automatically come.”
Patil stressed the mantra of staying present and focusing on the process, confident that success will follow naturally. She acknowledged that while some days may not yield ideal outcomes despite the same approach, maintaining faith in the process is key.
“So, for me, the only mantra is to be present and focus on the process; rest all will fall in place. So even if you had a great day, you might end up doing well but not picking wickets but some days, even with the same process not so good day, but you will end up getting wickets, but the process remains the same is what I feel.”