Watch: Shreyanka Patil uses Zimbabwe T20I break to train with Kevin Pietersen

For Shreyanka Patil, a break from international cricket has turned into an opportunity to hone her skills in the company of one of the most celebrated batsmen in the game.

Shreyanka was rested for India’s upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe and spent time at Mumbai Maidans training with former England captain Kevin Pietersen. The Indian all-rounder bowled a few deliveries to Pietersen who made full use of the crease to maneuver the ball and also used his legs to drive the ball down the ground.

However, Shreyanka had her moments. She managed to hit Pietersen in the pads and immediately erupted into a loud appeal that added a competitive edge to what appeared to be a relaxed practice session.

After the session, Shreyanka shared a glimpse of the trip on Instagram and described it as a much-needed day away from the usual grind.

“It was so much fun. A much needed day,” Shreyanka wrote on Instagram.

SHREYANKA FIGHTS BACK FROM INJURY

The trip comes after another challenging year for Shreyanka, who had to fight back from injury again. She suffered an ankle injury while starting against the Netherlands in the Women’s World T20 in June and was ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

She subsequently recovered in time to return to competitive cricket at the Asian Games in Japan. Shreyanka was part of the Indian team that won the gold medal as a side led by Harmanpreet Kaur successfully defended the women’s T20 cricket title.

Her return was particularly significant given the difficult injury journey she had already endured. The ankle defeat came after she worked her way back into the India line-up after a long spell on the sidelines.

Despite being part of the Asian Games triumph, Shreyanka was not included in India’s squad for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. The selectors opted for a team with several younger players, with Smriti Mandhana taking over as captain.

Hence, time away from international cricket could prove beneficial for Shreyanka. Training with a batsman of Pietersen’s caliber offers another chance to test her bowling, work on her plans and learn from one of the most experienced players.

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