Harshal Patel

Harshal Patel is a professional Indian cricketer who plays as a right-arm medium-fast bowler. He was born on 23 November 1990 in Sanand, Gujarat. Patel is known for his ability to swing the ball both ways and has impressed many with his consistency in domestic cricket.

Early Career:

Patel started his cricketing journey at a young age and played for Gujarat in the under-19 level. He also played for Gujarat in the Ranji Trophy and was a regular member of the team from 2010-11. In his debut season, he took 29 wickets in 7 matches at an average of 20.41. This performance earned him a spot in the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) team in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

IPL Career:

Harshal Patel was picked up by RCB in the 2012 IPL auction for a sum of Rs. 40 lakhs. In his debut season, he played 6 matches and picked up 9 wickets at an economy rate of 8.43. He was used primarily as a backup bowler and did not get many opportunities to showcase his skills.

In the following years, he continued to be a part of the RCB team but did not get regular chances to play. It was only in 2015 that he got a consistent run in the team and impressed everyone with his performances. In that season, he played 14 matches and picked up 17 wickets at an economy rate of 8.57. He was the second-highest wicket-taker for RCB in that season, behind only Mitchell Starc.

However, in the following season, he struggled with injuries and could only play 3 matches. In the 2017 season, he was picked up by Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) for a sum of Rs. 20 lakhs. He played 8 matches for them and picked up 7 wickets at an economy rate of 9.40.

It was in the 2021 season that Harshal Patel made a name for himself in the IPL. He was bought by RCB for a sum of Rs. 20 lakhs and was used as a death bowler. In the first match of the season, he picked up a five-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians, becoming the first bowler in IPL history to do so in the opening game of a season. He continued to impress in the following matches and finished the season as the highest wicket-taker with 32 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 17.50 and an economy rate of 9.17.

Overall, Harshal Patel has played 85 matches in the IPL and has picked up 99 wickets at an average of 23.80 and an economy rate of 9.08.

International Career:

Harshal Patel is yet to make his international debut for India but has been a consistent performer in domestic cricket. He has played for India A and was a part of the team that played against the West Indies A in 2019. In that series, he picked up 10 wickets in 4 matches at an average of 20.10.

Conclusion:

Harshal Patel is a talented bowler who has impressed many with his consistency in domestic cricket. He has had a stop-start career in the IPL but made a name for himself in the 2021 season. His ability to swing the ball both ways and bowl accurate yorkers make him a valuable asset in the T20 format. With his recent performances, he has put himself in contention for a spot in the Indian team and will be hoping to make his debut soon.