Shreyanka Patil, India’s rising superstar, has garnered a growing fanbase that can’t get enough of her. The 22-year-old made an important contribution in the title win for Royal Challengers Bangalore as she won the Purple Cap in 2024.
Making her international debut in 2023, Patil was among the four player shortlists for the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2024. Recently, in a candid interaction with Bangalore Times, Shreyanka, Bengaluru’s local girl, talked about life, cricket and everything in between.
When asked about the most entertaining person in the dressing room, Shreyanka playfully replied, “It’s me.” On being asked about who is most superstitious in the team, she claimed none of them had any such superstitious ritual. However, she did spill the beans on her go-to-person for late night conversations. “Jemu”- she said referring to Jemimah Rodrigues as her 3 a.m. friend. Shreyanka gave the title of ‘lazy one’ to Arundhati Reddy.
In a lighthearted ‘what would you like to steal’ segment, Patil revealed some fascinating choices. She wished she could steal Smriti Mandhana’s bats and Jemimah Rodrigues’ sense of humour. When asked about Virat Kohli, Shreyanka’s response was straightforward. “Him”, she said. Furthermore, she said she’d like to steal pull shots from Rohit Sharma. When it came to Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyanka was left speechless, saying, “Man. I don’t know what to talk about him. He’s such a legend, but his mind.”
Talking about her love for dance, she said she loves to dance in her free time. “I love to travel, but I don’t get so much time,” she said, when asked about her favourite travel destination.
As the conversation drew to a close, Shreyanka was asked about her plans for 2025. With a bright smile, she said, “Play as many games as possible”, her passion for the sport evident.
She also hopes to lead Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory in the upcoming WPL, making them the defending champions. Lastly, Shreyanka said, “And just keep smiling and stay happy” and the conversation came to a warm and optimistic close.
Shreyanka Patil will be back in action on February 14, 2025, as Royal Challengers Bangalore take on their first challenge in the WPL. All eyes will be fixed on her, the purple cap winner from last season. As fans eagerly wait for the upcoming Women’s Premier League, Shreyanka is ready to shine brighter than ever.
(Inputs sourced from Bangalore Times post on Instagram)
Loves all things female cricket