• Source:JND
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India spinner Shreyanka Patil, who recently made his ODI debut, said she could not keep her eyes off from Virat Kohli when she first met the star batter last year during the Women's Premier League (WPL) inaugural season.

Shreyanka was picked by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for the first season of WPL and made a lasting impression in the tournament. Her performance eventually guided her to India cap after making debuts for the India Emerging team and India A respectively.

Recalling her first meeting with Kohli, the 21-year-old said she was left stunned by the former captain's presence in the room.

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"That was a very sweet moment for me. I was sitting and thought, ‘Oh it’s just another team meeting’. Then I saw someone walk past me in a black shirt. When he appeared in front, I was like ‘This is Virat Kohli’. We had lost five games and were disappointed, and then suddenly he walks through. And then I was like, ‘What is happening.’ People were prompting me to ask questions. And nothing came out of my mouth. I was like, ‘Let me just see him and stare at him’. That was my first reaction when I saw him. The way he motivated the team was amazing," Shreyanka told JioCinema.

The youngster also shared his experience playing in the WPL with senior players including India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana, Ellyse Perry and Sophie Devine.

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"I have enjoyed the WPL thoroughly, not just batting and bowling but also having fun with my teammates and making new friends. The WPL provides a great opportunity to learn from legends like Ellyse Perry, Smriti Mandhana and Sophie Devine. I am looking forward to this year’s WPL too," she said.

For the upcoming second season of the WPL, Shreyanka said, "Having got the taste of playing the first WPL, I realise that I have to upgrade my skills as well. I will also have to be mentally tough, so I am working towards it."

She had a perfect end to the year as she made her India debut in the recently concluded home series against Australia, first in T20I and then in ODI at Wankhede Stadium.

Shreyanka said she learned about her India selection from fellow RCB teammate Kanika Ahuja on call.

"Actually, I didn’t get a call-up. I got a call from Kanika (Ahuja) who congratulated me. I asked her why she was congratulating me. Then I opened my WhatsApp and saw that I was added to the Indian team’s online group. That’s when I realised that it was real, and I was going to play for the Indian team. I had represented India ‘A’ and for me the next goal obviously was to play for India," she said.

"I was hoping that my debut would happen at Bangalore, but Mumbai is the city of dreams, so my dream came true in Mumbai. I got goosebumps when I saw people chanting India, India when I was bowling. I got that sudden pump and that energy just rushed in. I made sure that my parents came to watch the game and it was so nice to see them cheer for us," the spinner added.