Shreyanka Patil’s road back to competitive cricket has been anything but smooth. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder, once sidelined for more than a year with recurring injuries, is now poised for a powerful comeback in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026, and her story is one of resilience, self-discovery and unwavering belief from those who stood by her.
Patil’s prolonged absence from the field began with a shin injury sustained during the Women’s T20 World Cup in October 2024, which snowballed into a long spell away from competitive action that lasted around 13 to 14 months. What she initially expected to be a short layoff turned into a grueling battle with her body and mind as she repeatedly fought to recover.
The emotional toll was real. Speaking about that difficult period, Patil revealed how she struggled internally during the early days of rehabilitation. “I wasn’t talking to anyone at the start. I locked myself in a room for two or three months… That wasn’t me. I’m usually very bubbly. But talking to people made me realize I wasn’t alone,” she said, painting a stark picture of the emotional isolation she faced.
It wasn’t just physical pain that tested her. Missing out on marquee events including series tours and the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, where India lifted the trophy added layers of mental strain and disappointment. Yet those isolated months eventually became a turning point, as interactions with fellow athletes helped break her solitude and reframe her perspective.
Among the conversations that inspired her most were talks with India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who himself has had his own battles with injury. Even though Patil is a spinner and Bumrah a fast bowler, she found his insights surprisingly relevant. As she shared, “I had so many questions (for Bumrah)… About bowling under pressure, about practising yorkers. Even though he’s a fast bowler and I’m a spinner, I bowl at the death too… He told me, ‘This is okay, everyone goes through it (injuries). He said I’m facing it at a young age, so don’t fight it. Just be in it.’”
But perhaps the most defining chapter in her comeback came with the news that RCB had retained her for the 2026 season despite her long injury layoff. In an era of high expectations and competitive talent pools, it was a rare vote of confidence and one that left Patil overwhelmed.
“No words can describe how I felt,” she said of learning she would be one of RCB’s four retained players. “Someone who hasn’t played for 13 or 14 months, and they still trust you and say, ‘We’ll back you because your skill is up there’… It gives so much confidence.” The emotional weight of that faith was palpable when she described the moment of the call.
That faith was rooted in her proven match-winning ability. During RCB’s historic WPL 2024 title season, Patil was the team’s leading wicket-taker, finishing with 13 wickets in just eight matches at an average of 12.07, and earning the Purple Cap as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker.
Her 4/12 haul in the final against Delhi Capitals was instrumental in restricting the opposition and ultimately securing RCB’s maiden WPL title and she was also named the emerging player of the season. After hearing the retention news from coach Malolan Rangarajan, Patil said she phoned her personal coach Arjun Dev and “just started crying. I didn’t even know what I was feeling. It was just so much love and belief.”
Away from injury and missing the 2024 season, she now returns to action during RCB’s opener against Mumbai Indians on January 9. Now fit, confident, mentally rejuvenated, and looking to leave her injury-ridden days behind and help her side pursue another title.
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