‘Pressure is a Good Thing’: Confident Shreyanka Looks to Mimic WPL Success at T20 World Cup – News18

WPL title victory with RCB, WPL purple cap, India debut, first Indian to play at the CPL. From being just another athlete at the Dravid-Padukone Centre of Excellence, Bengaluru’s Shreyanka Patil has come a long way in two years. Probably lesser.

At just 22 years of age, Patil is set to add yet another feather to her cap, making her debut at the elusive T20 World Cup in UAE. Patil is one of the players in India’s 15-member squad and is expected to be in the starting XI right from the beginning of the tournament.

Although being very young, Patil understands the importance of her achievements.

“I’m really grateful. At this young age, I’m getting to face all the legends, and I am also playing with so many legends like Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti [Mandhana], Jemi [Jemimah Rodrigues],” Patil said in a closed media interaction on the sidelines of QUA brand shoot.

“It’s such a nice bunch of people; they’ve literally supported me and stood by my side. WPL has been amazing, and we won the trophy. Now looking forward to the World Cup as well,” she added.

While such achievements might lead to added pressure for some, Patil is different.

“For me, pressure is a good thing. When I say pressure, it is not negative. I keep myself cool under pressure because that’s what I practice during my practice sessions as well at NICE Academy.”

The all-rounder explains that she trains for difficult scenarios when pressure might increase and keeps her calm.

“I put myself into those pressure situations, last two balls and four runs to win. How will I bowl? And all of that. Repetitive practice helps me settle those nerves down.”

There is also a sense of confidence as she speaks about her game and her preparedness. The confidence also comes from the fact that she is willing to not give up and fight as long as possible. Her coach at RCB, Malolan Rangrajan, had said after the WPL 2024 semi-final that she has a ‘dog-fight’ in her.

“I think it has come very naturally to me since I was a kid. I don’t like to lose. So I get up and say, ‘Okay I’m going to try my heart [out]. I am going to give it everything no matter what. I love to have that fighting spirit with me always,” Shreyanka explains the dogfight in her.

The dogfight was largely visible when she came to the fore in the second leg of WPL in Delhi after having multiple poor outings in Bengaluru. After bagging just 2 wickets at an average of 50 in Bengaluru, Patil turned the tables with 11 wickets an average of 5.2 in Delhi. If this sounds any less, she bowled with a fractured left hand in a few games in Delhi.

Patil admits that the roller-coaster ride was also a significant learning experience for her.

“Everyone would say ‘She’s got the purple cap’, but for me, it was like a roller coaster of a ride. First- half in Bangalore, I could not perform at my best. I was a little disappointed because I let my Bangalore fans down,” Patil recalls her two-faced WPL season.

“But how did that change? Malo Sir [Malolan Rangrajan] helped me with my bowling and then Smriti literally backed me up no matter what. I’m very grateful to Smriti and the whole management. The second half really turned out to be a good one for me,” she continued.

The other thing that has grown for Shreyanka in such a short period and something she as well enjoys is the fan support.

“After the WPL second season, I really enjoyed the crowd. When I came back home, it was just like thousands of people in front of my house asking for selfies. ‘Madam, you did well, we loved your bowling’, and I couldn’t stop smiling. We went to RCB Bar and Cafe, the crowd was packed and I really enjoyed that moment.”

Shreyanka Patil Looks Forward to the T20 World Cup

With all these achievements, learnings, and crowd support, Patil looks forward to the T20 World Cup in UAE. While it will be India’s first experience in the Middle East, Patil is confident that the team will adapt quite quickly to the conditions.

“It will be challenging, but we will take it. We will be playing warm-up games and have practice sessions as well. We’ll have to adapt to the conditions quickly. I am looking forward to this World Cup. It’s going to be fun.”

The spin-friendly conditions in UAE might be beneficial for Patil and the Indian team. India’s strong quartet of spinners in Radha Yadav, Deepti Sharma, and Shobhana Asha besides Patil adds up to the team’s strength.

“We talk to each other when we are practicing. We know the other person’s strengths. We work together not just during the match, but also during practice sessions. We keep talking about the right areas to bowl,” Patil explained the strategic partnership amongst the spinners.

After again injuring the left hand, mid-way at the Asia Cup in August, and recovering from a twisted ankle in the second week of September, Patil flew to UAE with the Indian team on September 24. As India begin their quest for the maiden T20 World Cup, Patil might prove to be the right cog in the wheel, like she was at RCB.