Massive blow to India Women's T20 World Cup campaign, star player likely to miss entire tournament due to injury

India's Women's T20 World Cup campaign has suffered a major setback as their star off-spinner Shreyanka Patil is likely to be ruled out of the entire tournament due to an ankle ligament injury, as per a Cricinfo report.

Shreyanka Patil all but out of Women's T20 World Cup 2026

The unfortunate incident occurred during India's match against Netherlands, forcing her to undergo immediate medical scans. While the BCCI has yet to officially announce a replacement, selectors may look toward the India A Women's squad currently touring England under Anushka Sharma for a multi-format series starting June 20 in Northampton. Potential spin replacements already on English soil include off-spinner Minnu Mani, left-arm orthodox options Tanuja Kanwar and Vaishnavi Sharma, leg-spinner Prema Rawat, or even the captain herself, who provides handy off-break options.

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The injury itself was a distressing sight, unfolding just one ball into Shreyanka's bowling spell in Leeds. While attempting to hunt down a ball hit toward the mid-on region, she awkwardly twisted her ankle, collapsing in immediate agony. The Indian team physiotherapist rushed to the field as the young spinner clutched her right leg in obvious pain. Unable to bear any weight on her foot, a stretcher had to be brought out to assist her off the field, signaling the severity of the damage.

Shreyanka Patil's injury-laden career 

This latest blow adds a devastating chapter to Shreyanka's incredibly frustrating struggle with fitness over recent years. Her bad luck with major tournaments began back in July 2024, when a fractured finger cruelly sidelined her from that year's T20 World Cup. Her recovery trail was continually derailed by severe shin splints in both legs, followed closely by a stress reaction in her wrist that collectively shelved her for nearly a year. She finally engineered a successful comeback through the 2025 Women's CPL before playing a pivotal role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's triumphant second title charge in early 2026, making this latest World Cup heartbreak all the more agonizing.

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Talking about India's T20 World Cup campaign, they have won their first two matches against Pakistan, Netherlands. But their real challenge starts now as they will be locking horns with South Africa and Australia in their last two league stage matches.