India’s off-spin all-rounder Shreyanka Patil was carried from the field in Leeds on Wednesday after twisting her right ankle during the Women’s T20 World Cup group match against the Netherlands.
The incident came with the very first ball of Patil’s spell, the sixth over of the innings. Phebe Molkenboer clipped the delivery towards mid-on, and Patil sprinted after it, intent on cutting off a single. As she stooped to collect and turn, her foot gave way, leaving her on the turf clutching the joint. India’s medical staff reached her quickly, but she was unable to put any weight on the leg and was driven off on a stretcher-cart. Shafali Verma completed the over, while left-arm spinner Radha Yadav took Patil’s place in the field.
“It’s never pleasant to see a team-mate in pain,” captain Harmanpreet Kaur told the host broadcaster afterwards. “Shreyanka has put in a lot of hard work to get back into the squad, so we’re all hoping it’s not as serious as it looked.”
Head coach Amol Muzumdar added, “The physio is monitoring swelling and stability. We’ll have a scan done this evening and take a call once we have the images.”
Patil, 24, has endured a difficult stretch with injuries over the past two years. A finger fracture in July 2024 was followed by shin splints in both legs, and then a stress reaction in her wrist. She finally returned to competitive cricket in September 2025 for the Barbados Royals in the Women’s CPL, before representing Royal Challengers Bangalore in the WPL earlier this season.
“I felt I was bowling as well as ever after all those months of rehab,” Patil said last month, reflecting on her comeback. “Staying fit is now my biggest aim.” Those words feel particularly poignant after Wednesday’s setback.
India won their tournament opener against Pakistan in Birmingham and face South Africa in Manchester on 21 June, followed by Bangladesh on 25 June. Their final league fixture is at Lord’s against Australia on 28 June. Whether Patil will take any further part remains uncertain.
Team physiotherapist Trupti Bhattacharya was cautious: “Ankle injuries can vary a lot. We’ll know more in 24-48 hours once the initial inflammation settles.”
For now, India must prepare for the remainder of the group stage without knowing if their middle-order hitter and reliable off-spinner will return. The squad does have spin depth, but replacing Patil’s control and lower-order power is no simple task.
