Male Cricketer
Harshal Patel, born on November 23, 1990, is an Indian cricketer who represents the Indian cricket team. He is associated with Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League and plays domestic cricket for Haryana. Patel is a right-arm seamer known for his effective slower ball. He made his international debut on November 19, 2021, against New Zealand.
Patel's cricket journey started with impressive performances in the 2008-09 Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy, where he took 23 wickets at an impressive average. He made his one-day debut for Gujarat in 2009-10. Despite facing challenges, including the prospect of moving to the USA, his brother's support ensured he stayed in India to pursue cricket. He was part of the squad for the 2010 U-19 World Cup and secured an IPL contract with Mumbai Indians.
Moving to Haryana, Patel gained attention during his debut Ranji Trophy season with consecutive eight-wicket hauls in the quarter-final and semi-final. He was subsequently signed by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2012 IPL auction. Over the years, he moved to Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals) and then back to Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL.
In IPL 2021, Patel's performance shone with a notable 5-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians. He became the first player to achieve a 5-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians in the IPL and recorded the third-best bowling figures by an uncapped Indian player in the IPL. However, he also had a memorable but expensive over against CSK.
During IPL 2021, Patel made headlines by taking a hat-trick against Mumbai Indians, becoming the third bowler to achieve this for Royal Challengers Bangalore. His impressive performance throughout the season earned him the title of the highest Indian wicket-taker in a single season, tying with Dwayne Bravo.
He made his T20I debut for India in November 2021 against New Zealand, making an immediate impact by taking two wickets and being named the player of the match. He continued his success in the following matches, finishing the series with four wickets.
In the 2022 IPL auction, he was once again picked by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a significant amount. Despite his cricketing achievements, Patel faced personal challenges, including the passing of his sister, which led him to briefly leave the IPL bio-bubble.
In June 2022, Patel was named in India's squad for their T20I series against Ireland, showcasing his continued involvement in international cricket