Shreyanka Patil recalls dark phase of injury: She was depressed, wanted to quit cricket

Shreyanka Patil has opened up about the difficult phase she went through during a long injury layoff that sidelined her for around 16 months and delayed her return to competitive cricket. She initially suffered a broken finger during the Asia Cup, but managed to return in time for India’s 2024 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign in the UAE.

However, her return was short-lived as she later developed grade 3 shin splints in both legs, sidelining her for several months. The injury also ruled her out of the entire WPL 2025 season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Shreyanka finally returned to international cricket in the T20I series against Australia earlier this year, where she performed well and was named Man of the Match in the series decider at the Adelaide Oval, marking a memorable comeback after a difficult spell.

‘I KEPT MY HEAD HIGH’

Shreyanka said that during the severe phase of the injury, she struggled mentally and experienced depression, even considering giving up the sport at times. However, she decided not to give up and thanked her father and family for standing firmly by her side and supporting her through a difficult time.

“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 in the injury phase. But there was a voice inside me that said, ‘Regardless, I love this sport. I’m only here because I love playing it,'” Shreyanka told JioStar after India’s 64-run win over Pakistan on Sunday.

“So I couldn’t give up something I love to do. I kept my head up, my dad always talked to me and my family supported me all the time. The atmosphere around me and the strong support system I had, I was always surrounded by great people. That kept me going,” added Shreyanka.

Shreyanka had a steady outing against Pakistan at Edgbaston. Although she managed to get through the wicket, she kept a tight grip on the batting, finishing with figures of 3-0-17-0 and keeping the score in check.

She also made a valuable contribution in the field when she took a crisp diving catch to help Shree Charani dismiss Rameen Shamim. Shreyanka is expected to play a key role for India in the upcoming group stage matches against Australia and South Africa.

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Issued by:

sabyasachi chowdhury

Published on:

15 Jun 2026 22:45 IST