Cricket

Shreyanka Patil, India's promising offspinner, has been ruled out of the ongoing Women's Asia Cup due to a fractured finger. The 21-year-old sustained the injury during India's opening match against Pakistan on Friday.Patil played a crucial role in India's victory, bowling economically and picking up two wickets. However, she was not required to bat as India chased down the target with ease.The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed Patil's injury in a press release, stating that she had fractured the fourth finger of her left hand. The injury is a significant setback for India, who are aiming to defend their Asia Cup title.Tanuja Kanwar, an uncapped left-arm spinner, has been called up as Patil's replacement. Kanwar, 26, has impressed in domestic cricket and the Women's Premier League (WPL).Patil's absence is a blow to India's bowling attack. She has been a consistent performer for the national team, taking 13 wickets in 12 T20Is. She has also represented India in three ODIs.Kanwar, on the other hand, is a promising young spinner who has made a name for herself in the WPL. She was bought by Gujarat Giants for INR 50 lakh in 2023 and has impressed with her left-arm spin from behind the popping crease.India's next match at the Women's Asia Cup is against the UAE on Sunday. The team will be hoping to bounce back from Patil's injury and continue their quest for the title.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) women's team has defied all odds to secure a top-four spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. After a dismal start to the season, losing seven of their first eight matches, the team has staged a remarkable comeback, winning six consecutive games to qualify for the knockout stage.Shreyanka Patil, a star player for RCB, has been vocal in her response to critics who doubted the team's ability to make the playoffs. In a social media post, she wrote, "There is a 1% chance... and sometimes that is good enough." She urged those who had mocked the team to join the "RCB train" for a "crazy ride."RCB's resurgence has been fueled by a collective effort from the entire team. Wicket-keeper batter Dinesh Karthik, who has been a key figure in the team's success, gave a passionate speech in the dressing room after their victory against Chennai Super Kings (CSK)."People will always remember certain journeys," Karthik said. "The way we have come back after eight games, we needed to win six, people will remember this team."Karthik emphasized the significance of RCB's achievement, stating that it will inspire other teams in the future. "Every year in this tournament, when you hit the seven-game mark, there will be one or two teams which would have probably won one or two and they will look to us and say, 'RCB did it. That was special. We are going to try and repeat what RCB did'."RCB's next challenge will be the Eliminator match against Rajasthan Royals. The winner of that match will face the loser of Qualifier 1 in Qualifier 2. The winner of Qualifier 2 will then square off against the finalist (winner of Qualifier 1) for the title.

The Indian women's cricket team celebrated a historic triumph at the NDTV Indian of the Year 2024 awards ceremony, receiving the prestigious "Sports Performance of the Year" award. The team's remarkable achievements have propelled women's cricket in India to new heights.Shreyanka Patil, Shafali Verma, Sneh Rana, and Radha Yadav represented the team at the ceremony, where they were honored by tennis legend Sania Mirza. Shreyanka expressed her gratitude for the recognition and highlighted the transformative journey of women's cricket in India."Women's cricket has undergone a profound change in recent years," Shreyanka said. "We are now receiving financial support and opportunities that were once unimaginable. The BCCI deserves immense credit for their unwavering commitment to our growth."Shreyanka's words resonated with the team's recent success in the Women's Premier League (WPL). As a member of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) side, she played a pivotal role in their historic title victory."Winning the WPL title was a dream come true," Shreyanka said. "It was the first time an RCB team had won a championship, and we are incredibly proud of our accomplishment."Shreyanka also extended her support to the RCB men's team, who are currently competing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. "We have been eagerly waiting for the men's team to lift the IPL trophy," she said. "We know they are working hard and determined to bring it home. We wish them all the best."The Indian women's cricket team's success is a testament to their talent, dedication, and the growing support for women's sports in India. Their achievements have inspired a new generation of young girls to pursue their dreams on the cricket field.