Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) have suffered a setback ahead of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025. Their star off-spinner, Shreyanka Patil, has been ruled out of the tournament due to injury. Spin-bowling all-rounder Sneh Rana has been named as her replacement in the squad. While the specifics of Patil’s injury remain undisclosed, her absence is a significant blow to the defending champions.
Sneh Rana, who previously played for Gujarat Giants (GG), brings a wealth of experience to the RCB camp. She captained the Giants in the inaugural WPL season after regular skipper Beth Mooney was sidelined by injury. Despite her leadership and all-round capabilities, Rana surprisingly went unsold in the WPL auction held last December. RCB secured her services for INR 30 lakh, adding depth to their spin department.
During her stint with Gujarat Giants, Rana featured in 12 matches, claiming six wickets at an economy rate of 9.02. More recently, she led India C in the senior women’s one-day Challenger Trophy, finishing as the third-highest wicket-taker with nine scalps in five matches. Rana has also represented India in 52 white-ball internationals, taking 53 wickets. Although she is currently not part of India’s limited-overs plans, she played in the one-off Test against South Africa in Chennai last June, showcasing her versatility.
Shreyanka Patil’s absence leaves a void in RCB’s lineup, as she was instrumental in their title-winning campaign last season. Patil finished as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker, claiming 13 wickets in eight matches at an impressive economy of 7.30. Overall, she has taken 19 wickets in 15 matches for RCB, making her one of the team’s most reliable performers.
RCB have faced multiple challenges heading into the season, with key players like Sophie Devine (unavailable), Kate Cross, Asha Sobhana, and Sophie Molineux (all injured) missing from the squad. Despite these setbacks, RCB began their WPL 2025 campaign on a high note, securing a thrilling six-wicket win over Gujarat Giants in Vadodara on Friday.
With Sneh Rana now in the mix, RCB will hope her experience and all-round skills can help fill the gap left by Patil and contribute to another successful season. Fans will be eager to see how Rana adapts to her new role and whether she can help RCB defend their title.
