A twisted ankle restricted Shreyanka Patil’s outing against the Netherlands. The injury could force her to miss some (or all) of the Women's T20 World Cup. Here's how India can replace her in the XI.
Shreyanka Patil leaves on stretcher after bowling one ball
Patil had played her part when India comfortably beat Pakistan in their World Cup opener. Defending 210 in the second game, Patil came on to bowl when the Netherlands were 36-1 after six overs.
After Phebe Molkenboer pushed her first ball to mid-on, Patil ran and picked it up, and twisted her ankle in the process. She left the ground on a stretcher and played no further part in the game. The massive target turned out to be too big for tournament debutants Netherlands, and Patil’s teammates ensured she was not missed.
The Indian team now awaits updates on her scans. However, only three days remain India’s most important match of the group, against South Africa at Manchester (a game so important that a defeat will leave them in a must-defeat-Australia scenario).
We have discussed in these pages how the injuries to Amanjot Kaur and her replacement Kashvee Gautam have offset India’s team balance. As a result, India had to go in with exactly five bowlers (and part-timers), of whom only Deepti Sharma is a bona-fide all-rounder.
India’s superior quality, depth, and experience helped them defeat Pakistan and the Netherlands without much fuss. Sterner test awaits them now in the South Africa and Australia games: losing Patil (who bowled so well against Pakistan) does make things complicated.
How to replace Patil?
Radha Yadav seems to be most obvious replacement. The rise of Shree Charani, also a left-arm finger-spinner, in mid-2025 had prompted India to leave Radha out of the T20I side despite the latter’s superior batting credentials.
India have included both Radha and Shree Charani in the XI in the past, but that was in ODIs (including a World Cup final). However, Radha’s inclusion had more to do with her all-round credentials than her bowling alone. Her presence at No.8 added depth to India’s batting. Her three games at the World Cup included the semi-final and the final – and she went for 13-0-111-1 across these.
Chair of selectors Amita Sharma had explained Radha’s selection while announcing the squad: “Her bowling is in a better rhythm. Experience also matters. In Amanjot’s absence, we needed an all-rounder.” Captain Harmanpreet Kaur added that Radha was “an all-rounder who can contribute with bat, ball, and on the field.”
Indeed, in the low-scoring Asia Cup Rising Stars in February 2026, Radha had 10 wickets at 8.50 and 75 runs at 127, and led India A to title win. It goes without saying that she is also one of the best fielders in the team.
India’s three-spinner formula (four, if one includes Shafali Verma) has worked well so far, but that will be put under sterner test in the two games to come.
Of course, the conditions may assist seam more than spin. In that case, India may back Renuka Singh Thakur along with Kranti Gaud and Arundhati Reddy.
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