WCPL 2025: Shreyanka Patil omits MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma from her dream T20 XI

As Indian all-rounder Shreyanka Patil gears up for her WCPL 2025 return, she offers fans an inside look at her cricketing DNA by unveiling her dream T20 XI — a star-studded, gender-inclusive, and era-spanning team that speaks volumes about her vision for modern T20 cricket.

 Introduction: The Comeback Canvas

After nearly a year away from competitive cricket due to a finger injury and a painful snub from the Indian World Cup squad, Shreyanka Patil is scripting her comeback — and she’s doing it with characteristic flair and honesty.

The 22-year-old Bengaluru-born spinner, known for her infectious energy and fearless attitude, has joined the Barbados Royals for the Women’s Caribbean Premier League (WCPL) 2025. Ahead of her return, she participated in a candid and thought-provoking exercise: picking her Dream T20 XI.

What emerged is a cricket fan’s delight — a team that is imaginative, inclusive, aggressive, and deeply personal. In leaving out legends like MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma, and backing female contemporaries and global powerhouses, Shreyanka has subtly outlined the kind of player she is — and the one she aspires to be.

Let’s dive into the dream XI that’s making headlines for all the right reasons.

 Shreyanka Patil’s Dream T20 XI (WCPL 2025 Edition)

 Top Order Fireworks: Kohli, Gayle, and ABD

Shreyanka’s top three is a bold declaration of her cricketing influence — the RCB trinity of Virat Kohli, Chris Gayle, and AB de Villiers.

 Virat Kohli: The Anchor with Aggression

Known for his chase mastery and unmatched consistency, Kohli brings structure and fight to the team. Despite not being the most explosive T20 batter on paper, his adaptability and high-stakes temperament make him a valuable choice.

🗣 “He’s the reason I began watching cricket deeply,” Shreyanka once shared in an interview.

 Chris Gayle: Universe Boss Unleashed

T20’s original monster, Gayle is the prototype of power hitting. With over 14,000 T20 runs and 22 centuries, his legacy is unmatched.

• Fastest T20 hundred: 30 balls

• Most T20 sixes: Over 1,000

Shreyanka’s admiration for such fearless batting is evident — this is a player she wants to learn from and replicate in terms of impact.

 AB de Villiers: The 360° Genius

No dream team is complete without AB de Villiers, and Shreyanka clearly recognizes the value of creativity. Whether it’s the scoop over the keeper or the reverse flick to third man, AB’s genius brings an x-factor.

• Strike rate: 150+ across major leagues

• Versatile in any batting position

 Middle Order Muscle: Harmanpreet, Grace Harris, and Andre Russell

This trio reflects Shreyanka’s admiration for aggressive intent, composure, and match-winning ability.

 Harmanpreet Kaur: Captain Courageous

India’s T20I captain has been a symbol of power-hitting and leadership under fire. Shreyanka’s inclusion of Harman shows solidarity with her national leader and acknowledgement of her evolution as a modern T20 star.

• 2018 WT20 knock vs Australia: 171*

• T20I SR: 120+ with over 2,500 runs

 Grace Harris: The Fearless Enforcer

With an explosive strike rate and the audacity to take on any bowler, Grace Harris is Australia’s chaos agent. Her inclusion emphasizes Shreyanka’s appreciation for controlled recklessness.

💬 “If there’s one player who can change a game in 5 balls, it’s Grace,” Shreyanka remarked.

 Andre Russell: The Blueprint for All-Rounders

Few players embody T20 impact like Andre Russell — a match-winner with both bat and ball. Shreyanka places Russell above herself in the batting order, a nod to his finishing ability and game awareness.

• Batting SR: 170+

• 600+ wickets + 7,000+ runs in T20s

This pick is more than just respect — it’s aspirational.

 Shreyanka at No. 7: Balancing Modesty and Belief

Slotting herself at number seven, Shreyanka strikes a balance between humility and self-belief. Her game revolves around off-spin bowling, useful lower-order hitting, and sharp fielding — a classic modern-day T20 utility player.

This placement says: “I’m not yet the superstar… but I’m in the room.”

Her comeback through WCPL 2025 with Barbados Royals is the real-life audition to elevate herself in stature — perhaps one day opening in her own Dream XI.

 Bowling Brigade: Molineux, Henry, Bumrah & Rashid

 Sophie Molineux: Strategic Spinner

An underrated but intelligent left-arm spinner, Molineux brings variation and control. Her ability to bowl in the powerplay, combined with left-handed batting skills, makes her a smart inclusion.

She offers a spin-spin combo with Shreyanka — a dynamic often seen in women’s T20 cricket.

 Chinelle Henry: The Underdog Warrior

West Indies’ pace-bowling all-rounder Chinelle Henry represents grit and comeback spirit — a reflection of Shreyanka’s own career trajectory.

Her performances in the WCPL and for West Indies highlight her:

• Versatility

• Athleticism in the field

• Ability to break partnerships

Including Chinelle is both symbolic and tactical.

 Jasprit Bumrah: The Death Specialist

If you need one bowler to defend 10 in the final over, it’s Bumrah. His inclusion is a no-brainer and showcases Shreyanka’s preference for bowlers who stay cool under pressure.

• Yorker accuracy

• Sub-6 economy rate in T20Is

• Experience in finals and big matches

Bumrah adds mental strength and experience to the bowling unit.

 Rashid Khan: The X-Factor

Shreyanka rounds off her XI with arguably the best T20 spinner in the world — Rashid Khan. His wicket-taking ability, mystery, and economy rate make him the heart of this bowling attack.

• Over 550 T20 wickets

• T20 economy: 6.3

• Match-winner in every league he plays

🌪️ “You can’t go past Rashid if you’re building a team to win tournaments,” Shreyanka said.

 The Big Omissions: Dhoni and Rohit

In a move that stunned Indian fans, Shreyanka left out both MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma — two captains who have lifted T20 World Cups for India (2007, 2024).

What this tells us:

• Leadership wasn’t her primary criteria

• She values contemporary relevance, personal influence, and pure match impact over legacy

• She’s thinking like a strategist, not just a fan

 The Statement Behind the XI

This is more than a fantasy team — it’s a career mission statement:

• Shreyanka wants to play with the fearless intensity of Gayle and Grace Harris

• She admires the game control of Kohli and de Villiers

• She respects the all-round domination of Hasaranga, Russell, and Rashid

• She sees herself growing in the shadows of her heroes while carving her niche

 Her WCPL Return: The First Step to Realizing That Dream

• After missing a full year due to a finger injury, Shreyanka’s return via the WCPL 2025 is significant

• Playing alongside international stars in Barbados Royals will test her skills and mindset

• A successful stint could revive her chances for an India recall — especially with the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon

 A Dream XI with a Deeper Meaning

Shreyanka Patil’s Dream T20 XI is bold, inclusive, and insightful — a unique mix of superstar reverence and self-projection. It reflects a young cricketer who has absorbed global cricket, admired both genders equally, and wants to redefine success on her own terms.

As she begins her WCPL 2025 journey, fans and selectors alike will watch closely — not just for her numbers, but for the spirit of the cricketer who dared to dream differently.

Please check for information on the best betting sites in India – https://selectory.org/best-betting-sites/