15 June,2026 05:52 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shreyanka Patil in action against Pakistan (Pic: AFP)
Indian off-spinner Shreyanka Patil shared that she battled depression and thought about walking away from cricket during her injury rehabilitation period, which sidelined her for over a year.
Patil spent roughly 14 months away from competitive cricket after fracturing her finger during an Asia Cup match against Pakistan in July 2024. Her road to recovery grew increasingly difficult due to severe double-leg shin problems and an additional fracture to her left thumb, before she successfully made her competitive comeback with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the WPL earlier this year.
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't depressed or that I didn't think about giving up cricket. That's how I felt initially during the injury phase. But there was a voice inside me saying, 'No matter what, I love playing this sport. I'm here only because I love playing it'," Shreyanka told JioStar.
"So, I couldn't give up on something I love doing. I kept my head high, my dad kept talking to me, and my family supported me throughout. The atmosphere around me and the strong support system I had, I was always surrounded by great people. That kept me going. I love being back on the field now, and I won't let that feeling go," Shreyanka added.
Even though the field restrictions during the powerplay heavily tip the scales in favour of the batting side, Patil explained that she enjoys the challenge of bowling in the first six overs.
"I've always enjoyed bowling in the powerplay, whether it's for my state team or for India. It's amazing to bowl under pressure because that's what I love doing, and it's something I've successfully done in the past," she added.
Shreyanka Patil emphasised that India must remain focused following their win over Pakistan. With Australia and South Africa still in the group, India will need to be at their best to qualify for the semi-final.
"We know that Australia and South Africa are top teams as well. It's a World Cup, and you never know; anything can happen. So, you have to be at your best on the given day.' she added.
(With PTI inputs)
