Watch: Shreyanka Patil uses Zimbabwe T20I break to train with Kevin Pietersen

For Shreyanka Patil, a break from international cricket has turned into an opportunity to sharpen her skills in the company of one of the game’s most celebrated batters.

Rested for India’s upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, Shreyanka spent time at the Mumbai maidans training with former England captain Kevin Pietersen. The India all-rounder bowled a few deliveries to Pietersen, who made full use of the crease to manoeuvre the ball around and also used his feet to launch one down the ground.

Shreyanka, though, had her moments. She managed to hit Pietersen on the pads and immediately erupted into a loud appeal, adding a competitive touch to what appeared to be a relaxed training session.

After the session, Shreyanka shared a glimpse of the outing on Instagram, describing it as a much-needed day away from the usual grind.

“That was so much fun. Much-needed day out,” Shreyanka wrote on Instagram.

SHREYANKA FIGHTS HER WAY BACK FROM INJURY

The outing comes after another demanding year for Shreyanka, who has had to fight her way back from injury once again. She suffered an ankle injury while fielding against the Netherlands in the Women’s T20 World Cup in June and was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament.

She subsequently recovered in time to return to competitive cricket at the Asian Games in Japan. Shreyanka was part of India’s gold-medal-winning squad as the Harmanpreet Kaur-led side successfully defended the women’s T20 cricket title.

Her return was particularly significant given the difficult injury journey she had already endured. The ankle setback came after she had worked her way back into the India setup following an extended period on the sidelines.

Despite being part of the Asian Games triumph, Shreyanka was not included in India’s squad for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe. The selectors have opted for a squad featuring several younger players, with Smriti Mandhana taking over as captain.

For Shreyanka, the time away from international cricket could therefore prove useful. Training alongside a batter of Pietersen’s calibre offers another chance to test her bowling, work on her plans and learn from one of the game’s most experienced competitors.

– Ends