A few days back, on March 17, it marked a year since Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) scripted history by clinching their maiden Women’s Premier League (WPL) title in 2024. As the memories of that triumphant night resurfaced, RCB’s star all-rounder Shreyanka Patil opened up about the journey in The Unheard Appeal podcast by NICE Official.
Reflecting on the highs and lows of the season, she spoke about the emotions of lifting the trophy, her personal redemption arc – bouncing back from a disappointing first leg to claim the coveted Purple Cap. From setbacks to glory, Shreyanka’s WPL 2024 campaign was nothing short of inspiring, and in her own words, the victory still feels magical.
She recalled how the start of WPL 2024 was far from ideal for her, as a back injury cast doubt over her availability for the initial games. Frustration set in, and she found herself battling disappointment and irritation at the untimely setback. But through it all, the unwavering support from RCB’s medical team and Assistant Coach Malolan Rangarajan kept her going. She credited the team for ensuring she made it back onto the field. “When you know all these people are supporting you, through your thick and thin, it makes you feel safe.” she said.
Her thoughts then drifted to RCB’s first home game, an experience she recalled as truly surreal. The team’s arrival at Chinnaswamy Stadium was nothing short of spectacular, with a convoy of bikes escorting them from the hotel to the ground. But the real magic unfolded as they entered Chinnaswamy Road, fans decked in RCB jerseys, chanting for the team, creating an atmosphere she had only dreamed of.
“Since I was a kid, I have been doing that, get down from the metro and see the RCB bus passing, I’ll keep searching where Virat (Virat Kohli) is sitting, and now I am in the bus.” The crowd’s deafening cheers made it all the more special, reinforcing the deep connection between RCB and its fanbase. That, she said, was the moment her real WPL journey began.
RCB’s 2024 campaign kicked off against UP Warriorz, and for Shreyanka, it was a mix of instinct and lessons learned. Walking in to bat with just a couple of balls left, she initially missed her first delivery. But on the final ball of the innings, she smashed a six off Sophie Ecclestone. “I just thought wherever she bowls, I am gonna swing hard… and she bowled a full toss, and I swung that as hard as I could, and it went for a six,” the 22-year-old said.
With the ball, however, things didn’t go exactly as planned. She admitted to conceding a few boundaries and getting hit, making it a dicey game. But in the end, the result mattered most, RCB clinched the win, making it a satisfying start to the season.
The Bengaluru leg of WPL 2024 was not what Shreyanka had hoped for. Reflecting on the same, she said, “I personally thought I disappointed my family, my parents, the whole crowd because I had a lot of expectations that I have to perform in front of my home ground, my own people, but I failed to do it.”
Then came another setback—an injury while fielding at long-on, where she saved a boundary but unknowingly picked up a small fracture. Despite the pain, she continued fielding for the entire innings. Later, when she learned about the fracture, instead of seeing it as a hurdle, she took it as a moment of reflection. The unwavering faith of her teammates and coaches further fueled her comeback. “Luke (Luke Williams), Malo Sir (Malolan Rangarajan), Smriti (Smriti Mandhana) – they were like, ‘Even with one hand, we want you to play.’ That gave me a lot of confidence.”
Her turnaround truly began in the Delhi leg. Returning to the field against Delhi Capitals, she approached the game with a fresh mindset, one focused on enjoying the moment. The result was a sensational four-wicket haul, including the prized scalp of Meg Lanning. “I always wanted to get her wicket, and when I got her wicket, I really felt it. Like all these years, I had been visualizing and manifesting to get such legends out.”
However, the highs were soon followed by heartbreak. In a nail-biting one-run loss, Shreyanka found herself overwhelmed with emotion. “Richa and I were batting, I had not even faced a single ball in that innings, but still, I was sitting and crying after the game. I just sat, and I didn’t know what to do but just cry.”
However, the team bounced back, securing a spot in the knockouts and proving their resilience when it mattered most. The Eliminator against Mumbai Indians was a match etched in Shreyanka’s memory forever. The pressure of a knockout game was immense, but within the RCB camp, there was an air of calm confidence. “20 off 18, Pez (Ellyse Perry) coming, talking to us, giving a hi-fi—I mean, we never thought we were losing the match, we were just enjoying the moment.”
The defining moment for her came on the last ball of her spell when she dismissed Harmanpreet Kaur, a breakthrough that turned the game on its head. “That kind of flipped everything. From there on, Asha is coming, Renuka is coming, Smriti is jumping. If I close my eyes, I can feel it.” She talked about Sophie Molineux’s game changing 19th over, followed by Asha’s clutch. “We won the game from nowhere.”, she exclaimed.
The final began with nerves as Delhi Capitals raced to 60 in the first six overs, and doubts started creeping into Shreyanka’s mind. “I was calculating—end of 20 overs, they might score even 200. How are we gonna chase?” But then, Sophie Molineux turned the game with three wickets in a single over, completely shifting the momentum.
From there, RCB never looked back. Shreyanka once again dismissed Meg Lanning, her second time in the tournament, jumping in joy at the massive breakthrough. She finished with four wickets, while Asha Shobana wrapped up the innings in style, capping off a dominant show by the spinners. From a shaky start, RCB had restricted Delhi to just 113, setting up the perfect platform for their historic win.
One of the most surreal moments for her came post the first innings when she was interviewed by Ravi Shastri. “I have heard his commentary, his voice—it’s just amazing, and he was interviewing me.” In that conversation, she confidently declared, “I was a different beast.” She reflected on her turnaround from taking just a couple of wickets early in the tournament to winning the Purple Cap on the final night.
It was a moment she credited to her coach, Arjun Sir, whose guidance had played a key role in her journey. “When I wore the cap, I just thought about Arjun Sir.”
As the final runs were chased down, the entire team was desperate to get it done quickly. “We were all like, just finish these runs as soon as possible so we can lift the trophy, touch the trophy.” And then, Richa Ghosh smashed the winning shot over covers—RCB had done it.
From nearly crashing out in the league stage to a stunning comeback in the Eliminator and a dominant final, they had given it their all. The celebrations were pure joy – Shreyanka jumped on Renuka, on Kate Cross, and shared what she called “one of the cutest memories” with Smriti Mandhana.
But the magic reached another level when Virat Kohli joined in on a video call. “I was like, who are they all talking to? And it was Virat Kohli! I was like—we did it, and he was celebrating with us. Felt like a family.”
Looking back at the moment she had dreamt of for so long, she summed it up in the simplest yet most powerful words: “Lifting the trophy felt like pure happiness and joy, I felt like a kid again.” March 17, a day she would never forget.
(Quotes sourced from a video posted by NICE Official on YouTube)
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