Indian all-rounder Shreyanka Patil is set for a big comeback in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2026. She spent a harrowing 14 months battling injuries. Her return to competitive cricket marks a new chapter, heavily influenced by advice from pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
The Grueling Layoff and Mental Fight
Shreyanka’s time away from the field started after the T20 World Cup last year. A series of issues hit her: shin splints, a wrist injury, and then a fractured left thumb. This wasn’t just physical pain. She missed WPL 2025, a Sri Lanka tri-series, an England tour. And then the ODI World Cup at home.
She thought it’d be a quick two-month recovery. But it stretched over a year. Missing those big tournaments, especially the World Cup, really hurt. As she shared, “Missing the World Cup hurt a lot. As a cricketer, you always want to lift that trophy,” according to ESPN. She locked herself away for months, isolating herself. It wasn’t like her usual bubbly self.
During her recovery at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, other cricket news was circulating. For instance, the Vijay Hazare Trophy was in full swing with matches like Gujarat vs Odisha playing out, as reported by Hindustan Times. But for Shreyanka, her world was focused on getting back.
Bumrah’s Crucial Wisdom
A turning point came when Jasprit Bumrah visited the CoE. Shreyanka, a leg-spinner known for her death-over bowling, had questions. She wanted to know about handling pressure and practicing yorkers. Bumrah, a master of death bowling and no stranger to injury setbacks, had answers.
He told her, “Don’t fight it. Just be in it.” This was for her injury recovery. He said, “this is okay, what you’re going through, everyone will go through. You’re facing this in a very young age. So just be in it. Don’t fight it to just be in it.” India Today highlighted this advice. It helped her see her struggles differently. He also gave “brilliant answers” on bowling yorkers, she said.
Bumrah’s shared experience resonated deep. He understood the physical and mental toll. His words provided reassurance. It wasn’t just about technique, but perspective. And that chat, plus informal talks with other players like Riyan Parag, helped pull her out of isolation.
RCB’s Trust and the Path Forward
Late last year, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) delivered more good news. They retained Shreyanka for the upcoming WPL. She called it a shock. To trust someone out for so long meant everything. “Someone who hasn’t played for 13 or 14 months, and they still trust you and say, ‘We’ll back you because your skill is up there’…it gives so much confidence,” she told The Hindu.
She was overthinking things before that call, worried about her future. The retention meant belief. It made her cry with relief. Now she’s pain-free. She played for Barbados Royals in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League and for Karnataka domestically. She’s worked on her game. WPL 2026 starts soon, with RCB facing Mumbai Indians on January 9.
The cricketing world keeps moving, with teams like New Zealand announcing their T20 World Cup squads around this time, a report from Hindustan Times showed. But Shreyanka’s focus is fully on her return. She is ready. And she’s got some powerful wisdom in her back pocket.
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee 
Ishaan Singh