The underdog narrative of Royal Challengers Bangalore took a triumphant turn as the blooming talent, Shreyanka Patil, vaulted into cricket lore, posting magnificent T20 figures in the high-voltage WPL 2024 final and swept the Purple Cap with her name. It was the crucial encounter against Delhi Capitals on Sunday that marked her ascent as a relentless force in women’s cricket.
On an evening simmered in anticipation, the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi became an amphitheater showcasing a duel of tactics and skill. The Capitals, charging to a formidable 61/0 within the powerplay overs, appeared to have tilted the scales in their favor. However, the dynamic of the game was about to shift, thanks to Australian spinner Sophie Molineux’s spectacular introduction, which led to her claiming three critical scalps in the ninth over.
Amidst the plot twist, Patil, donning the RCB’s emblem with youthful fervor, emerged as the architect of Delhi’s downfall. With extraordinary poise, the Indian youngster dismantled the top order, initiating her blitz with the prized wicket of Meg Lanning and continuing her onslaught to accrue four wickets at the expense of a mere 12 runs. Her spell not only cemented the best-ever figures in the WPL final but also earmarked a personal best in her blossoming T20 career.
Reflecting on the match, an elated Shreyanka said, “I really enjoyed bowling in the middle. They got a really good start but we did not let our guard down. We said it was a matter of a wicket. When we got the first, it was about the next and we kept fighting. Enjoyed each and every moment of the first innings. There was something in the wicket. If there is a little turn, I feel I am a different beast.”
There is no triumph without its trials, and Patil faced her share bravely. The revelation came post-match that she had been combating pain emanating from a hairline fracture in her hand—a setback sustained during the eliminator against Mumbai Indians just two days prior. Despite this hurdle, Patil took inspiration from her counterpart Sophie Molineux and shouldered the burden, understanding the stakes that the grand finale held.
“Playing against MI in Bangalore, I got a hairline fracture. The team management and the physio team really worked hard to get me back on the field and huge credit to them. When I played against Australia, Pez (Perry) came up to me and told I would get a lot to learn from Sophie. Big match player and she turned up (tonight),” reminisced Patil on her harrowing yet ultimately rewarding journey to the final clash.
The match, etched in the annals of WPL finals history, not only charted the meteoric rise of Shreyanka Patil, but also demonstrated a collective resilience that cricket often demands of its greatest champions. As Patil and her teammates hoisted the trophy, they also raised the bar for future tournaments, encapsulating the spirit of the game with their undying tenacity and skill.
In the background, heartfelt tributes poured in for other cricket legends such as Ravichandran Ashwin, who was celebrated for his phenomenal achievement of 500 Test wickets—a testament to absolute dedication and skillful artisanship that resonates with Patil’s own journey. And with this final, the sound of bat and ball rendered a captivating symphony of courage, where Shreyanka Patil, despite her fractured hand and underdog status, soared to cricketing excellence, and etched her name in indelible letters across the cricket world.
