Shreyanka Patil out of Women's T20 World Cup 2026 — Who is Prema Rawat, India's shock replacement?

India have suffered a major setback at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, with Shreyanka Patil ruled out of the tournament due to an ankle injury. The 23-year-old spinner picked up the injury while fielding during India’s match against the Netherlands and had to leave the field after bowling just one ball. In her place, Prema Rawat, an uncapped leg-spinner, has been named as India’s replacement for the remainder of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, making her one of the most talked-about additions to the squad.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed that the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Event Technical Committee has approved Shreyanka Patil’s replacement. Following the approval, the Women’s Selection Committee officially selected Prema Rawat to join the Indian squad for the rest of the competition.

Prema Rawat was already in England as part of the India A setup and will now link up with the senior team ahead of their upcoming matches. The leg-spinner is yet to make her international debut, but selectors have shown faith in her potential by handing her a surprise opportunity on the biggest stage in women’s cricket.

Ankle ligament injury ends Shreyanka Patil's World Cup campaign mid-tournament

Shreyanka Patil's ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign has come to a heartbreaking end after she suffered an ankle ligament injury during India's Group A match against the Netherlands on Wednesday.

The off-spinner was forced off the field on the very first ball of the sixth over of the Netherlands' innings. After coming on to bowl, Shreyanka chased a ball towards mid-on but twisted her right ankle while attempting to field. She immediately fell to the ground in pain, clutching her ankle as teammates and medical staff rushed to assist her. The 23-year-old was eventually stretchered off the field and later ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.

See also -Shreyanka Patil ankle injury update — Will she play India vs South Africa in Women's T20 WC 2026?

The setback is particularly unfortunate for Shreyanka, who had only recently returned to international cricket after recovering from a previous injury. She featured in India's victory over Pakistan earlier in the tournament, finishing with figures of 0 for 17 from three overs. Earlier this year, she was also part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru squad that won the 2026 Women's Premier League title.

Speaking after her return to cricket, Shreyanka had opened up about the mental challenges of dealing with repeated injuries. She admitted that she had considered quitting the game at one stage but credited her family and support system for helping her stay motivated and continue her journey.

Confirming the replacement, the ICC said in a statement: "The Event Technical Committee of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 has approved Prema Rawat as a replacement for Shreyanka Patil in the India squad. The replacement of a player requires the approval of the Event Technical Committee before the replacement player can be officially added to the squad."

Uncapped RCB spinner Prema Rawat set for her India debut

Prema Rawat is on the verge of making her India debut after being named as Shreyanka Patil's replacement in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 squad. The 24-year-old leg-spinner has earned the opportunity following a series of impressive performances for India A, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Uttarakhand in domestic cricket.

Rawat played a key role in India's title-winning campaign at the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament, where she picked up eight wickets in five matches at an average of 9.62. She also emerged as the joint-leading wicket-taker on India A's tour of Australia last year, claiming seven wickets in just three matches. Her consistent performances have made her one of the most promising spin bowlers in the country.

See also -Watch: Shreyanka Patil's stunning diving catch as India beat Pakistan by 64 runs in Women's T20 World Cup 2026

The leg-spinner has featured in six Women's Premier League matches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru across the last two seasons, taking three wickets. She also played an important role in Uttarakhand's triumph in the Senior Women's domestic championship. With her strong performances across formats and levels, Rawat has now been rewarded with a place in India's World Cup squad.

India have won both of their matches so far in the tournament and will next face South Africa at Old Trafford, Manchester, on June 21.

Following Rawat's promotion to the senior squad, the Women's Selection Committee has announced changes to the India A squads for the upcoming England A series. Niki Prasad has been added to the India A T20 squad, while Minnu Mani has been included in the India A One-Day squad.

How the injury changes India's spin options before the South Africa clash

Shreyanka Patil's injury is a big setback for India ahead of their important Women's T20 World Cup match against South Africa. The off-spinner was expected to play a key role in the middle overs with both her bowling and fielding. Her absence leaves a gap in India's spin attack.

India still have experienced spin options in the squad, but the team may need to adjust its bowling plans. With Shreyanka ruled out, the spotlight will now be on the remaining spinners to control the run rate and pick up crucial wickets against a strong South African batting line-up.

The inclusion of leg-spinner Prema Rawat gives India another spin option. Although she is yet to make her international debut, Rawat has impressed for India A and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. If given a chance, the youngster could provide a fresh spark as India look to continue their winning start to the tournament.

The updated India squad for the ongoing World Cup is: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (WK), Sree Charani, Yastika Bhatia (WK), Nandni Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Radha Yadav and Prema Rawat.