I love what I'm doing: Shreyanka Patil hits back at trolls over dance reel

Shreyanka Patil has dismissed criticism over her social media activity, stating that she enjoys dancing and wearing the clothes she chooses. The India batter faced trolling after posting a reel dancing to 'Babli Badmaash Hai', a track from the 2013 Bollywood film Shootout at Wadala. Patil recently addressed the negative comments directly and explained her perspective on online criticism.

The 24-year-old expressed confidence in her choices and rejected the notion that trolling affects her outlook or decisions. She emphasised that both appreciation and criticism serve her interests and that she remains comfortable with her public presence.

"I mean, honestly, it gives me a lot of attention. People are actually seeing me and saying, ‘Oh, she’s doing so well.’ Whether you troll me, criticise me or appreciate me, I think it’s all for my good. I don’t see trolls as trolls because I love what I’m doing. I love being on Instagram, I love dancing, and I love wearing the dresses I want to wear," Patil said while speaking at an India Today event.

"I’m not shy about saying that because I’m comfortable with who I am. I’m comfortable dancing to any song and doing what makes me happy. I love doing what I love, and trolls are just going to remain trolls. They’re probably just jealous that I’m doing well," she added.

Patil's journey back to cricket has been marked by significant physical challenges. She picked up an ankle injury during India's Women's T20 World Cup 2026 match against Netherlands at Headingley, rolling her ankle while fielding in the fifth over. After returning to international cricket earlier in 2026 following a 16-month absence, she faced another setback with this injury during the marquee event.

A web series took retirement thoughts away from Shreyanka's mind

The ankle injury prompted serious doubts about her future in the sport. Patil spoke to her coach Arjun Dev about potentially quitting cricket after the World Cup injury. She questioned whether continuing to play was worth the physical toll of repeated injuries and the emotional burden they created.

However, the web series Operation Safed Sagar proved transformative in reshaping her outlook on sport and sacrifice. Patil recognised that the characters in it demonstrated a willingness to give their lives for their country, which contrasted sharply with her own situation in professional cricket.

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"Actually, what changed my life after this injury was watching Operation Safed Sagar. After the injury during the World Cup, I told my coach, who was sitting right here, that I didn't want to play cricket anymore. I was done with it." Patil said.

"I kept asking myself, 'Why me? Why am I getting injured so many times?' I don't want to get emotional, but those feelings are still inside me. I wondered why I should play cricket just to keep getting injured. But then I watched this series, and it completely changed my perspective. I realised that there, even with one second here and there, you can give your life for your country. But here, whether you fail or do well, you can wake up and play on the field again. There’s nothing like that—you can have a bad day and still wake up and play the same sport you love," she added.