India's Shreyanka Patil ruled out of Women’s Asia Cup following fractured finger

Young cricketer Shreyanka Patil’s Women’s Asia Cup 2024 campaign ended after she fractured her finger. The all-rounder sustained the injury during India’s opening match against Nida Dar’s Pakistan on Friday, July 19, at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. 

The news of the same was confirmed by the ACC (Asian Cricket Council) through a media release. It is worth noting that Patil injured the fourth finger of her left hand while trying to take a catch in the second innings against Pakistan. Furthermore, she had sustained an injury on the same hand while playing for RCB that kept her out of action for a couple of matches in the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2024.

However, the youngster made a sensational comeback for RCB in the WPL 2024; she ended up as the leading wicket taker and even won the emerging player of the season award after her side’s title-winning run.

Also, left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwer was named as Patil’s replacement in the side. Kanwer was among the four travelling reserves in the Indian squad and will be replacing Patil in the tournament now. She is yet to make her debut for India, but she did impress for Gujarat Giants in the WPL. With 10 scalps to her name from eight games at an economy rate of 7.13, Kanwer finished as the highest wicket taker from Giants in the tournament.

Women in Blue get off to Women’s Asia Cup 2024 positively

Speaking of India women’s performances in the Women’s Asia Cup 2024, the Women in Blue have played one game in the tournament so far, which came against Pakistan. Bowling first, the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side limited Pakistan to a total of just 108 runs in the first innings. 

Deepti Sharma was the highest wicket-taker, with three wickets to her name. Shreyanka, Renuka Singh, and Pooja Vastrakar took two wickets each. Aiming to chase the target, in-form openers Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana propelled India women to a brilliant start, scoring 40 and 45 runs, respectively, as the side chased down the target and won the game by seven wickets.

India’s updated squad for Women’s Asia Cup T20, 2024: Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Smriti Mandhana (VC), Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh (WK), Uma Chetry (WK), Pooja Vastrakar, Arundhati Reddy, Renuka Singh Thakur, Dayalan Hemalatha, Asha Sobhana, Radha Yadav, Sajana Sajeevan, Tanuja Kanwer