- 1 week ago
Speaking at the Karnataka Roundtable, Shreyanka Patil credited Virat Kohli for building RCB into a team with a massive following, saying his long association with the franchise has created a special bond with fans. She called playing for RCB a “blessing” and said Kohli has always been someone she admired and looked up to.
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00:00Okay. At the Karnataka Roundtable, we are moving away from the world of politics to the world that I really
00:09enjoy and brings a smile to my and all our faces and the claps in the audience suggested it. Cricket.
00:17And what would Bengaluru be without RCB?
00:20They won two IPL titles in a row and they won two WPLs in the last three years. And one
00:28of the stars for the WPL team of RCB is my guest today. Please welcome Sriyanka Patil.
00:35Thank you. Thank you so much.
00:37Good to have you here. Is that an introduction that is fair? How do you see yourselves? Sriyanka Patil, 24
00:45-year-old Indian cricket star or Sriyanka Patil, RCB star?
00:50Or a bit of both?
00:52A bit of both, sir. Because I started with RCB and then playing for India. I mean, that's my dream,
00:58playing for RCB. I've always admired that team because of Virat Kohli.
01:03I've always looked up for this team and then me playing for that franchise is like a blessing to me.
01:08And obviously, playing for India, who wouldn't dream of playing for India?
01:12And now I'm here, like, I can proudly say I'm an Indian cricketer.
01:16You know, because I have to ask you this. What is the special connection that this city has with RCB?
01:22Whenever I watch IPL, WPL matches, whenever RCB is playing, the Chinnaswami is always full.
01:28What is it? What is the magic that RCB has created? What is it? Is there something about this city,
01:34chemistry about this city? You're a local, so you will know this chemistry better. What is it about RCB and
01:40cricket?
01:42Honestly, I don't have any answer for this. It's just pure love towards this team. I think a big credit
01:49goes to Virat Kohli because he's built the team so well.
01:52He's been playing for this franchise for over 18 years or more. I don't know the count, but he's been
01:59from the first season till now playing for RCB.
02:03And the connection with him and the city, Bangalore, is just immense. And he's just got people along, the Bangalore
02:09people along. Not just Bangalore, I think the whole of Karnataka is like RCB, RCB.
02:14So, ever since I got to know WPL, IPL being an engineer, it was 2008. I was a kid then.
02:23So, I was about 6 years old.
02:24You're 6 years old. 2000. You're a true Gen Z. Anyone else here has not, she's the first real Gen
02:31Z that we have today.
02:32Which is why you got the applause from the other Gen Zs. So, but the interesting thing is you keep
02:36mentioning Virat Kohli.
02:37Virat Kohli kept playing for RCB. RCB won nothing. The first thing actually RCB won was WPL. And that then
02:45led to RCB winning the IPL the next year.
02:48So, you all were the trendsetters. But is he your idol? Do you see Virat Kohli as someone you look
02:55up to or is there a woman cricketer that you look up to?
02:57It's always been Virat Kohli.
02:59Always Virat Kohli.
03:00Always been Virat Kohli. But I, after 2017 World Cup, the Women's World Cup, I started liking Harman Peet Kaur.
03:07The way she, it's very similar to Virat Kohli. The aggression she gets on the field. The way she speaks.
03:13Just started watching her and then Smriti being our captain. I started admiring her as well.
03:18So, it's all, but first has always been Virat Kohli.
03:21Because one of the things, Sri Lanka, that has changed in Indian cricket is women's cricket.
03:25I mean, there are crowds coming for it. You're getting decent money for it. Equal pay for women cricketers.
03:33How does that feel? I mean, when you go out on the streets of Bengaluru,
03:37do you get mobbed and people come and take your autographs or is that a privilege still only for the
03:42Virat Kohli's
03:44and the Patithars and the Dinesh Karthiks of the world?
03:48Honestly, I have a story to tell, sir.
03:49Yeah, please do. And please don't serve me, but go ahead.
03:53So, initially when I got picked for RCB, the first year we didn't do that too well because we lost
03:57five games in a row.
03:59And then we didn't know what was happening. So, that was like, oh my god, what's happening?
04:03We are in RCB and we've lost five in a row. We're not even qualifying. Nothing's happening.
04:07The season went. I was happy that I was being picked by RCB.
04:11And then I came to Bangalore. I'm someone who travels in Metro.
04:14So, I used to go to KSEA for my sessions, finish, come back by Metro.
04:18And then after playing for RCB is when people started like,
04:21Ishti Anka Patil, Ishti Anka Patil.
04:23Actually, I've dreamt of it. Honestly, I don't want to lie.
04:26But actually, I dreamt of people actually recognizing me, coming for autographs or photographs.
04:31And then I truly, I was like, wow, this is actually happening.
04:35And it started and now I've been a part of the RCB team for four years now.
04:40And the love I've got, the love I've received is just, I cannot say words at all.
04:46Like, people come saying, like, I want to become like you.
04:49And I think that's the greatest achievement for me.
04:52So, what's the big change between when you started off playing cricket and now,
04:57particularly after India won the World Cup 50-overs women, has it transformed you?
05:01I see you in advertisements. I see you doing all kinds of things.
05:04I'm coming to each of them one by one.
05:06But has it made you stars in the tours?
05:09Do you see yourself as a cricketer or a celebrity now?
05:13Or a bit of both?
05:15Honest answer. You are being very honest. You can.
05:17What's the biggest change you've seen in the game in the last few years?
05:22I think after 2017 World Cup is when actually cricket started growing for women's cricket.
05:27The 2017 when we reached the finals.
05:29So, I think people started thinking that we can make career out of this sport.
05:32It's not just, oh, we play, we go, we don't earn anything and all of that.
05:37But now, I think being equal pay announced, everything, and WPL being a major click for Indian girls,
05:46I think it's just a great platform for us to be a part of this WPL and then moving forward.
05:51Now, we see great talents, the domestic players getting chance in the WPL.
05:55So, cricket has evolved and then, now we can see that result coming in the 50-overs World Cup as
06:01well.
06:01We're winning the trophy for the first time.
06:03And now, everyone thinks that, okay, we can do it.
06:05So, we have that zit, okay, now we can push to our limits and go get many more trophies.
06:11You know, Jay Shah and BCCI often get targeted for various things.
06:15On this, they have to get credit.
06:16They did see the future when it came to women's cricket.
06:20But, how do you, do you regret not being part of that World Cup team that won last year because
06:25of your injury?
06:26Is that something you get up in the night?
06:28And you've had a fair share of injuries in the last couple of years.
06:31You get up in the night and say, that was the moment I wanted to be there.
06:36Did it leave you depressed?
06:37Or were you just happy for the team and Indian cricket?
06:39Again, honest answer.
06:41I was extremely disappointed that I was not a part of that team who won the trophy for the first
06:46time.
06:47Always first time is the best one, special one.
06:50During that World Cup phase, I was okay.
06:53I was a little getting ready for my rehab sessions, get done with my rehab sessions, come back home, watch
06:59games and all of that.
07:01Final days when it actually hit me, when India lift that trophy, I cried.
07:07Those were happy tears.
07:08Those were purely happy tears.
07:11And then when I went back to bed, when I was about to sleep, I started sobbing.
07:15I started like, and this was not something with happiness or something.
07:19It was just pure disappointment that shit, I missed it.
07:22I should have been there.
07:23I was there, but I wasn't there.
07:25And then everyone video called me, Smriti, Jamie, Aru.
07:28Everyone video called me and I was like, this trophy is also yours.
07:31And that made me feel even more emotional and I'm like, I should have been there.
07:37That's a lovely story.
07:38And I have no doubt that India will win the World Cup again with you being there.
07:41But you know, as I said, you become a celebrity.
07:45I was Googling and I saw you, you become, you've got, you become a bit of a troll bait.
07:51I'm told that you did a dance to Bubli Badmash Hai.
07:55Now, I don't even know.
07:56I haven't seen, you know, I haven't heard the song, but it's gone viral.
08:01And it's a reply to trolls.
08:04You seem to be quite an Instagrammer.
08:06You enjoy Instagram.
08:08Even yesterday, you've done some video with a former player, I think.
08:12You keep doing these dance videos, song, happy videos.
08:15Are you worried about the trolls who say, what is this?
08:18An athlete, she should be focusing on cricket and her fitness, not on Instagram.
08:23What will you tell them?
08:25What do you want to tell the trolls?
08:26I mean, honestly, it gives me a lot of attention.
08:29People are actually seeing me and saying, oh, she's doing so well.
08:32You troll me or you criticize me or you appreciate me.
08:36I think it's all for my good because I don't see trollers as trollers because I love what I'm doing.
08:42I love being on Instagram.
08:43I love dancing.
08:44I love wearing the dress I want to wear.
08:47And I'm not even shy to say this because I'm comfortable wearing dress.
08:51I'm comfortable doing deals.
08:52I'm comfortable dancing for any songs because it's just me.
08:55It gives me happiness and I love doing what I love doing.
08:58And trollers are just going to remain trollers and they're just going to be jealous that I'm doing good.
09:03Lovely.
09:03That's a great answer.
09:04I mean, you want to do things your way, right?
09:06I'm seeing the hashtag now, smash the patriarchy.
09:09Yesterday, it was Kriti Sanan doing it.
09:11Today, it's Sri Lanka Pathan saying, you love the dance.
09:14It's not about attention seeking, right?
09:16Are you going on Instagram because you love it or because you want attention?
09:20I've always done this.
09:22Since I was a kid, I love dancing.
09:24Since Instagram, I got connected to Instagram.
09:27I'm like, okay, let me do what I love doing.
09:29And it's just like people love when I dance.
09:32They enjoy that.
09:34They're like, oh, you dance so well.
09:35So, I'm like, okay, let my fans enjoy who loves me genuinely.
09:38Let them also enjoy what I'm doing.
09:40So, it's just that.
09:42What's next?
09:43You've got an Asian Games that could take place a month from now.
09:46Hopefully, you will be fit for that.
09:49How do you...
09:50Is this now your life?
09:53Is women's...
09:54Is cricket your life?
09:55Is there a world beyond cricket for Sri Lanka?
09:58Or is this a full-time 24 by 7, 365 days commitment now?
10:04Full cricket.
10:05Full-on.
10:05Full-on cricket.
10:07So, actually, what changed my life after this injury
10:11was watching the Operation Safed Sagar.
10:15Because I honestly, after this injury,
10:18during the World Cup, I thought...
10:20I told my coach who's sitting right here,
10:21I said, I don't want to play cricket anymore.
10:24Because I was little...
10:26I was done with this.
10:27I was like, why me?
10:28Why am I getting injured so many times?
10:30Like, I don't want to be emotional,
10:32but it's actually still inside me.
10:34I'm like, why do I have to play cricket?
10:36Like, just to get injured and all of that.
10:38I had those thoughts.
10:39I had those doubts in my mind.
10:41And then, actually, when I watched this series
10:43is when it actually changed completely.
10:46I'm like, there, even with one second here and there,
10:50you can fire your own country.
10:52But here, you fail.
10:53You do well.
10:54You can wake up and play on the field again.
10:58I mean, there's nothing.
10:59There's no, like...
11:00You don't do well, you're again waking up
11:01and playing the same sport which you'll love.
11:04So, I think that's changed.
11:05And the mindset after me watching that series
11:08has actually changed me as a person
11:11and the way I think.
11:12You said your coach is here.
11:14How much of credit do you give parents,
11:16particularly when it comes to women's sport,
11:18like a sport like cricket,
11:19which for the longest time
11:20was seen to be male-dominated?
11:22When you first got into the sport,
11:23did your parents say,
11:25don't do this, find something else to do?
11:29No.
11:29I was very lucky enough
11:30that I got such lovely parents.
11:32I have such lovely parents
11:33because my dad was a cricketer as well.
11:35He used to run an academy.
11:37Right.
11:37So, I used to go there
11:38and just play cricket for fun.
11:40And I didn't know what women's cricket...
11:41I didn't even know that women's cricket existed back then.
11:44And my mom is also pretty chill with all of this.
11:47And obviously, credit goes to both my parents
11:49and my coach who's sitting here.
11:51I've worked with him about...
11:53What's his name?
11:54Arjun Dev.
11:54Okay.
11:55So, from past seven years, he's with me.
11:57And then, I think, since I met him
11:59is when my game actually started changing in a good way.
12:02So, a lot of credit to him
12:04and my parents who have not stopped me
12:06from doing what I love doing.
12:07They were never like,
12:08oh, you have to get 90%.
12:09Oh, you have to get 70%.
12:11Oh, you have to do this.
12:12You have to become an engineer or a doctor.
12:13He said, do what you love doing
12:15but give 120% in what you do.
12:18If Sri Lanka Patil wanted to bowl in the nets
12:20or in a match at one batsman,
12:22batter, men, man or woman, batter,
12:25who would it be?
12:26Who would you...
12:27Who would really...
12:28Would you want to challenge with your offspin?
12:31You know, this is the land of great offspinners,
12:33the great Prasanna.
12:34Doesn't live too far away from here
12:36in Bengaluru.
12:37And you have a bit of flight that Prasanna had.
12:39But if there was one batsman that you want...
12:42or batter that you wanted to bowl to,
12:44who would that be?
12:46I don't have to think.
12:47It's going to be Virat Kohli.
12:49My God, yeah.
12:50Virat Kohli, you know, Anushka better worry.
12:54You know, there's a real fan here
12:57who sort of dreams of bowling to Virat.
13:00Have you managed to ever bowl to him in the nets?
13:03No.
13:03But in my visualization, I have done it.
13:06Multiple times.
13:06Achai, you visualized it.
13:07But RCB, I'm sure, can easily organize
13:09a Sri Lanka versus Virat battle.
13:12Maybe in coming years.
13:13Maybe in the coming years.
13:15But, you know, in conclusion,
13:19I just want to understand
13:21what is your message for young women
13:23listening to you,
13:24who are now, as you said,
13:26seeing you as a role model.
13:27What will you tell someone
13:28who wants to play cricket?
13:30I think most importantly is to have fun.
13:33Don't take this cricket as,
13:35okay, I want to get picked for India.
13:36I want to get picked for your state.
13:39The selection part will take care of itself.
13:41I think what's more important is
13:43you love playing cricket,
13:44you have to love playing.
13:46You have to enjoy the sport.
13:47And don't get scared of anybody.
13:49If you think if you're doing right,
13:50it's okay.
13:51If you think cricket is your game,
13:53go for it, give all out,
13:55and then see what happens.
13:56And one more thing I want to say is
13:59don't be shy, don't be scared of people.
14:02Like, people are going to say,
14:03why are you playing this sport?
14:04People are going to ask you questions like,
14:06are you really sure?
14:07But if you, honestly,
14:09if you be honest to yourself,
14:10I think everything is going to be in place.
14:14I think that's more important
14:15and always have that smile.
14:16Always enjoy the sport,
14:18be happy,
14:19failures,
14:20be ready for failures
14:21because that's what teaches
14:22how to come forward
14:24and get that success.
14:26Okay, I've got a minute to go.
14:27We are winding down
14:29our Karnataka round table.
14:31We've got another big minister
14:33joining us in a moment
14:34who incidentally also shares
14:35your surname.
14:37but you said
14:38you love dancing.
14:40So what I've decided,
14:41we have a
14:42South India Bureau Chief
14:44and Bengaluru Bureau Chief
14:46who also loves dancing.
14:48So,
14:48since I have a bad back,
14:50I can't do it.
14:51My colleague,
14:52Akshita Nand Gopal
14:53also is a very good dancer.
14:54So I'm now calling
14:56Akshita on stage
14:57and Nagarjun on stage
14:58and you're going to show them
15:00what your dance moves are.
15:02Come on,
15:03Nagar,
15:03come on.
15:05Come on,
15:06come on.
15:08Yeah,
15:08she'll share it on the Instagram.
15:10She'll share it on Instagram.
15:12Jemima shares her songs.
15:13She shares her dance moves.
15:16Rajdeep,
15:16you also be a part of it.
15:17No, no,
15:18I,
15:18then the end,
15:19whatever is left of the audience,
15:20they'll all leave.
15:21So I'm going to get you all to dance.
15:22What's the song?
15:23Is there a song or something?
15:25But you can teach them.
15:26Don't you want to teach Rajdeep
15:27a few things?
15:28Yes.
15:28Okay,
15:29so I'll also learn.
15:29Come on,
15:30but you all have to join.
15:31I'm game as always.
15:33Come on,
15:33Akshita.
15:34Come on,
15:34Nagarjun.
15:35Which song are we playing?
15:36Okay,
15:38which is your favorite dance tune?
15:39You tell us
15:40and then I'll try it,
15:40try it.
15:42I mean,
15:43now whatever is part of it.
15:44What's part of it?
15:46Padli,
15:47Padmaj.
15:48Padli?
15:49Padmaj.
15:50Padmaj.
15:50Padmaj.
15:51Padmaj.
15:52Padmaj.
15:52Padmaj.
15:53Okay,
15:54you start with
15:55Padmaj,
15:55but you'll have to show me the steps
15:57and let's go.
15:58Okay,
15:59do you have
16:00Babli Padmaj?
16:01A recording of it?
16:05Where are you going to get
16:06a recording of
16:07Babli Padmaj now?
16:08My God,
16:09Bangalore is pretty,
16:10it's pretty set,
16:11yeah.
16:15Naga,
16:15is it there?
16:20Okay.
16:28This is it?
16:33Come on,
16:34guys.
18:04You're supporting an NGO.
18:05You want to tell us very quickly more about that and how people can support the NGO?
18:14When I was about 16, 17 years, my coach asked me to do a vision board because I'm creative.
18:22I loved drawing and all of that.
18:24So I had one segment where it says Academy for Underprivileged.
18:31So that was my goal.
18:32I said when I become big, when I earn money, whatever capacity I can, I thought I'll do
18:38it.
18:38And then now I started this 317 perfume business and whatever we earn through that goes to
18:45the foundation and whatever I can help through this.
18:48Now I started helping young cricketers, girl cricketers.
18:53So whatever I can do with my little bit, whatever I'm earning now, I think it'll help them for
18:58play cricket and grow.
18:59Okay, 317 perfume.
19:01Okay, pick up that and support Sri Yankar's cause to work among the underprivileged.
19:07Great to have you here.
19:09And thank you very much.
19:10Ladies and gentlemen, please give a very big hand to one of the rising stars of Indian women's cricket.
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