Who is Prema Rawat? All you need to know about Shreyanka Patil's replacement

India’s hopes of clinching their maiden T20 World Cup title have suffered a huge setback with spin‑bowling allrounder Shreyanka Patil ruled out of the tournament due to an ankle ligament injury.

Why is Shreyanka Patil’s injury such a massive blow for India?

India were already short on allrounder options. Amanjot Kaur is sidelined with a back injury, while Kashvee Gautam damaged her right knee during the South Africa tour ahead of the World Cup. With both seam‑bowling allrounders unavailable, Shreyanka’s presence was vital to maintain balance in the side. Her injury leaves India exposed in a department where depth is scarce.

Who is Prema Rawat?

Selectors have turned to Prema Rawat, a 24‑year‑old leg‑spinner from Uttarakhand, as Shreyanka’s replacement. Rawat is the third woman cricketer from the state to earn an India call‑up in recent times, following in the footsteps of Ekta Bisht and Sneh Rana. A specialist leg‑spinner and handy lower‑order batter, she offers skill and composure that the management believes can steady the team.

Ready to spin her magic on the big stage 🪄

Welcome Prema Rawat 🤝#TeamIndia | #T20WorldCup | #WomenInBlue pic.twitter.com/pmN1EoYrdE

— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 20, 2026

Which team does Prema Rawat play for in the WPL?

Rawat plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women’s Premier League. RCB first signed her for INR 1.20 crore at the 2025 auction, where she featured in three matches. 

Though her economy rate was expensive at 15.00, she showed glimpses of promise. Released subsequently, RCB brought her back at the 2026 WPL auction for INR 20 lakhs using their Right to Match card. This season, she bowled three overs, picked up two wickets, and impressed with a much‑improved economy of 5.33.

RCB women’s head coach Malolan Rangarajan rates Prema Rawat very highly for her ability to impart strong revs on the ball and considers her one of the best fielders in the country

"Prema is someone we identified last year and we were very, very sure of the talent," Rangarajan had told ESPNcricinfo at the time of the last WPL auction. "She is trending in the right direction. A lot of talent there but more importantly, for someone like Prema, who had come for trials prior to us picking her last year, one thing was very evident was her character.

"She is a character who isn't too flustered or phased by the situation or the gravitas of the WPL or the RCB dressing room. We really like that. She is supremely talented, can bowl legspin with good revs at a very good speed. I'd say that along with Arundhati Reddy and Radha, she is among the best fielders in the country."

What made the selectors opt for Prema as the ideal replacement for Shreyanka?

Rawat’s standout performance came at the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament in Thailand earlier this year. She delivered match‑winning figures of 3/12 in the final against Bangladesh, helping India secure a 46‑run victory. With eight wickets in five games at an average of 9.62 and an economy of 4.27, she finished as the fourth‑highest wicket‑taker of the competition. Those numbers made her the natural choice to step in for Shreyanka.