India T20 World Cup Replacement Confirmed as Prema Rawat Replaces Injured Shreyanka Patil
The ICC has officially approved the India T20 World Cup replacement, naming uncapped leg-spinner Prema Rawat for the injured Shreyanka Patil. Patil suffered a right ankle injury against the Netherlands, ruling her out of the 2026 Women's T20 World Cup.
Finding the right India T20 World Cup replacement became an immediate priority for team management following a devastating Shreyanka Patil injury. During Wednesday's Group A clash against the Netherlands, the 23-year-old off-spinner rolled her right ankle while fielding and had to be stretchered off the ground.
The ICC Event Technical Committee has officially approved uncapped leg-spinner Prema Rawat as her replacement for the remainder of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026. Rawat, who was already touring England with the India 'A' side, brings momentum from her recent domestic success.
With India currently unbeaten after defeating Pakistan and the Netherlands, adding Rawat stabilizes the India Women's T20 World Cup squad ahead of their pivotal upcoming fixture against South Africa.
Shreyanka Patil's Injury Unfolds Against the Netherlands
During the sixth over of the innings against the Netherlands, Shreyanka Patil twisted her ankle awkwardly while fielding a ball towards mid-on. She collapsed immediately in visible pain, forcing the medical staff to intervene on the field. The severity of the twist meant she was carried off the ground on a stretcher and could take no further part in the fixture.
Before this unfortunate setback, Patil bowled a highly economical spell of 0/17 in three overs against Pakistan. Losing a frontline spinner midway through the group stages forces the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side to adjust their bowling combinations on short notice.
Who is Prema Rawat, the New India T20 World Cup Replacement
Prema Rawat is a 24-year-old leg-spinner who has been consistently delivering match-winning performances in domestic cricket. While she is currently uncapped at the senior international level, she showed massive potential playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Women's Premier League (WPL) and representing Uttarakhand domestically. Her recent stint in the Women's Asia Cup Rising Stars tournament established her as a genuine wicket-taking threat.
| Player Profile | Prema Rawat |
| Role | Leg-spinner |
| Age | 24 |
| Domestic Teams | Uttarakhand, Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
| Recent Key Stat | 8 wickets in 5 matches (India 'A' Asia Cup Rising Stars) |
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— BCCI Women (@BCCIWomen) June 19, 2026
Prema Rawat replaces the injured Shreyanka Patil in #TeamIndia's squad at ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.
Following Prema's inclusion in the squad, Niki Prasad has been added to the India A T20 squad and Minnu Mani has been added to the India A One-Day squad.
More…
3 Key Changes to the India Women's T20 World Cup Squad
With this official roster change, the dynamics shift slightly in the Indian spin department. The official ICC media release confirmed the move: "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."
Here is how the squad update impacts the team:
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Spin Variety: Rawat brings a wrist-spin option, differentiating from Patil's traditional finger-spin.
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Immediate Availability: Because Rawat was already in England with the India 'A' setup, she avoids travel delays and joins the main roster immediately.
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Next Fixture Readiness: The updated lineup faces South Africa on June 21 at Old Trafford, giving Rawat a strong chance to earn her debut cap this week.
This forced adjustment tests the depth of the national team as they aim for their maiden title. While missing a reliable bowler is undoubtedly a setback, backing a rising domestic talent offers an exciting opportunity to maintain their undefeated tournament streak.
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