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Harshal Patel

Overview

Harshal Patel is an Indian professional cricketer known primarily for his right-arm fast-medium bowling. He has represented India in international limited-overs cricket, and has played extensively in domestic first-class cricket as well as in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Harshal is particularly recognised for his variations in pace, including a slower-ball delivery that has become a notable feature of his bowling in the shorter formats.

Key Facts

Full name Harshal Vikram Patel
Born 23 November 1990
Birthplace Sanand, Gujarat, India
Batting style Right-handed
Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium
Role Bowler / Lower-order batter
Domestic team Haryana
National side India

Background

Harshal Patel was born in Sanand, in the state of Gujarat. He moved through the Indian age-group system and eventually established himself in domestic cricket with Haryana, the team he has represented in the Ranji Trophy, the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. His progress through the domestic circuit was marked by consistent performances as a wicket-taking seam bowler.

Domestic Career

Harshal made his first-class debut for Haryana in the Ranji Trophy and developed into one of the side's leading fast-medium bowlers. In list A and Twenty20 domestic competitions, he has been used both with the new ball and as a death-overs specialist, a role that suits his command of slower-ball variations and yorkers.

Indian Premier League

Harshal has been a long-standing presence in the IPL, featuring for franchises including the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Delhi Daredevils/Capitals, and Punjab Kings. His most prominent IPL season came in 2021, when, playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he claimed 32 wickets — equalling the record for the most wickets in a single IPL season — and won the Purple Cap, awarded to the tournament's leading wicket-taker. He has been particularly effective in the death overs, where his slower deliveries and use of the back-of-the-hand cutter have proved difficult for batters to time.

International Career

Following his strong IPL form, Harshal was selected to represent India in international limited-overs cricket. He has played both Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and One Day Internationals (ODIs) for India. His role in the national side has typically been that of a death-overs bowler, leveraging the same skills that brought him success in franchise cricket.

Style and Significance

Harshal is best known for his ability to bowl in the death overs, an increasingly specialised role in the modern T20 game. His repertoire includes the off-cutter, the wide yorker, and a variety of slower balls. His IPL 2021 season is regarded as one of the standout individual bowling performances in the league's history, and contributed to the wider recognition of finger-cutter and slower-ball specialists in T20 cricket.

References