Twelve months ago, Shreyanka Patil was navigating one of the loneliest phases of her young career. Today, she is back in India colours, a two-time Women’s Premier League (WPL) champion with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and speaking with a maturity shaped by setbacks. In her conversation with Mayanti Langer on the RCB Podcast, Patil opened up about the emotional toll of injury, the comfort of mentorship, and what it means to represent a franchise she once supported from the stands.
The injuries came at a cruel time. A wrist stress fracture first, then a fractured thumb, halted her momentum just when she was finding consistency. The time away from the game weighed heavily on her. Rehab sessions became routine, but the silence afterwards was harder to handle. The frustration of watching from the sidelines, of knowing she could have been part of key series and moments, lingered.
What ultimately helped her turn the corner was a change in perspective. “Whatever is going to happen, it’s not in my control. What’s in my control is to start enjoying my rehab. And then once I started talking to people is when I got to know, okay, I’m not the only one who’s going through this.” It was a simple but powerful shift, one that transformed rehabilitation from punishment into preparation.
At the Centre of Excellence, Patil chose to seek out conversations that could strengthen her mentally as much as physically. When she heard that Jasprit Bumrah was around, she gathered the courage to approach him. “I said can I please get 10 minutes of your time any day and then two three days over and then he’s like Shrey, you wanted to talk to me and then we had a long conversation.
“He did understand what I’m actually going through and then he’s like, it’s okay to be in that space because at any given stage you will have to go through this and I’m happy it’s come at this young age.” For a young spinner, the interaction was less about skill and more about absorbing the mindset of someone who has endured pressure, scrutiny and injury at the highest level.
Her chat with Suryakumar Yadav left a similar impression. “He came to me and he’s like come let’s talk like I thought the conversation is only going to last for 10 minutes max, but it went on till an hour.” That extended conversation symbolized how far she had come. There was a time when approaching senior players felt intimidating.
“If I have to talk to Virat or if I have to go and talk to Rohit, it’s like oh my god, it’s like a fan thing. Now it’s very relaxed. Okay, you can go and ask them questions, they approach you and it’s become very subtle and it’s happening very naturally I would say.” The awe remains, but it now coexists with confidence.
If there is one space where Patil allows herself to be purely emotional, it is with RCB. A lifelong supporter before she ever wore the jersey, she has always associated the franchise with belief and loyalty. When the retention call came after their WPL-winning season, the magnitude of the moment overwhelmed her.
“I get Malos’s (RCB head coach Malolan Rangarajan) call about the retention. Pat, what do you think? He’s asking me. I said sir you tell me. And then you’ve been retained Patil. Then I video called Arjun sir and I started crying. That’s when he’s like saying something and I’m like I’ve been waiting.” Those tears carried years of dreaming and validation.
Watching RCB’s men finally lift the IPL trophy added another layer to that connection. Seeing Virat Kohli overcome with emotion alongside AB de Villiers and Chris Gayle resonated deeply with her as a fan and a player. It was a reminder that belief, even when tested for years, can eventually be rewarded.
Now back with the Indian team and carrying the confidence of a WPL title, Shreyanka Patil’s journey feels richer for the adversity she has endured. The injuries forced her inward, the conversations strengthened her outwardly, and the victories reaffirmed that she belongs on the biggest stages.
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