Shreyanka Patil Set to Miss Women's T20 World Cup 2026 After Fresh Injury Blow
India's Women's T20 World Cup campaign has been hit by a major setback after all-rounder Shreyanka Patil suffered an ankle ligament injury against the Netherlands. The BCCI is now expected to announce a replacement as India prepares for crucial matches ahead.
June 19, 2026: India's Women's T20 World Cup campaign has been dealt a major setback, with offspin all-rounder Shreyanka Patil set to miss the remainder of the tournament after suffering an ankle ligament injury during India's match against the Netherlands in Leeds. While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is yet to make an official announcement, the injury is understood to be serious enough to rule her out of the competition.
The injury occurred during the second innings shortly after Patil was introduced into the bowling attack. Just one ball into her spell, she sprinted towards mid-on in an attempt to stop a shot from reaching the boundary. While chasing the ball, she twisted her right ankle awkwardly and immediately fell to the ground in visible pain.
Medical staff rushed onto the field within seconds as Patil clutched her leg in discomfort. It quickly became clear that the injury was significant, with the all-rounder unable to place any weight on her right foot. After receiving treatment on the field, she was eventually carried off on a stretcher before being sent for scans to determine the extent of the damage.
Patil's absence comes at an unfortunate time for India, who have started their Women's T20 World Cup campaign strongly with consecutive victories over Pakistan and the Netherlands. Apart from providing a valuable spin-bowling option, Patil's all-round abilities offer balance to the side, making her a crucial member of the squad.
Shreyanka Patil is all but ruled out of the Women's T20 World Cup with an ankle ligament injury pic.twitter.com/xPfFnygc24
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 18, 2026
India Face Selection Dilemma as Replacement Race Begins
With Patil expected to be sidelined for the rest of the tournament, attention has now shifted towards who could replace her in the World Cup squad. The BCCI is expected to announce a replacement in the coming days, and several candidates are already in contention.
India A women are currently touring England under the captaincy of Anushka Sharma. The squad is scheduled to play three T20 matches followed by three List A fixtures beginning on June 20 in Northampton. Given the similarities in conditions and the timing of the tour, India's selectors may look within that group for a replacement.
Among the frontrunners are offspinner Minnu Mani, who has already represented India at the highest level, and left-arm spinners Tanuja Kanwar and Vaishnavi Sharma. Legspinner Prema Rawat is another option, while captain Anushka Sharma herself offers an offspin alternative. The selectors will likely assess which player best fits the team's balance and tactical requirements before making a final decision.
The injury also continues a frustrating trend for Patil, whose career has repeatedly been interrupted by fitness setbacks over the last two years. She missed the 2024 Women's T20 World Cup after suffering a broken finger and later endured a lengthy rehabilitation period due to shin splints in both legs. Just as she recovered from those issues, a stress reaction in her wrist kept her out of action for several more months.
Those injuries combined forced Patil to spend close to a year away from competitive cricket, halting the momentum of one of India's most promising young all-rounders. However, she worked her way back through the Women's Caribbean Premier League in 2025 before returning to the domestic and franchise circuit.
Her comeback gathered pace during the Women's Premier League 2026, where she played an important role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's successful title-winning campaign. The performances suggested she had finally overcome her injury troubles and was ready to establish herself as a regular member of India's white-ball setup.
Unfortunately, this latest setback has once again interrupted her progress at a crucial stage of her career. Missing another major ICC tournament will be a bitter disappointment for the young all-rounder, particularly after working so hard to regain full fitness.
India, meanwhile, must quickly regroup as they prepare for a crucial clash against South Africa in Manchester on Sunday. The team remains unbeaten in the tournament so far, but replacing a player with Patil's skill set will not be easy. The coming days will not only determine India's replacement choice but could also shape the balance of the squad for the remainder of their World Cup campaign.
