Harshal Patel

Some Lesser Known Facts About Harshal Patel

• Harshal is a USA Green Card holder. His family emigrated to the United States in 2008; however, he stayed in India as he wanted to become a cricketer.

• In 2008, when his parents planned to move to the United States, Harshal Patel’s coach, Tarak Trivedi, talked them into letting Harshal stay in India to focus on his cricket career. ^[2]Hindustan Times His brother, Tapan Patel, also supported his dream.

• At the age of 8, he started training in cricket under the guidance of ‘Tarak Trivedi.’ According to Harshal, he was admitted to a cricket academy as his mother didn’t want him to play street cricket in his locality.

  

• In 2008, he joined the Aggressive Cricket Club and played in the Cricket League of New Jersey (CLNJ).

• He then played for Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy and picked 23 wickets in the 2008-2009 season.

• In 2009, he was selected for the Gujarat cricket team and made his List A debut in the Vijay Hazare Trophy against ‘Maharashtra’ at Rajkot, Gujarat.

• He was part of the ‘India Under-19 squad for the ‘2010 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup’ but didn’t get the opportunity to play.

  

• After he was named in the India Under 19 squad for the 2010 World Cup, Harshal Patel said,
  

  I always wanted to make a career in cricket. My coach Tarak Trivedi convinced my parents to let me pursue my dream here and I am happy that I have made everyone proud by making it to the World Cup squad.”

• In the same year, Mumbai Indians bought him for Rs. 8 lakhs for the 2010 Indian Premier League (IPL); however, he was not included in the playing eleven.

• He later started playing for ‘Haryana’ after not getting an opportunity to play for ‘Gujarat.’

• He played his first T20 match in 2011 for ‘Haryana’ against ‘Punjab’ in Rohtak, Haryana.

• Harshal Patel first played in the Ranji tournament during the 2011-12 season. Representing Haryana, he took 8 wickets in the quarter-finals and then again in the semi-finals.

  

• He came into the limelight when he picked five wickets against ‘Bangalore’ in an inning.

• Harshal Patel was first selected to play in the IPL by the Royal Challengers Bangalore because of his outstanding performance in the 2011-12 Ranji Trophy season.

• In 2018, Delhi Daredevils bought him for Rs. 20 lakhs.

• In January 2021, the Delhi Capitals team traded him to the Royal Challengers Bangalore.

• In 2021, during an IPL match in Dubai, playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Mumbai Indians, Patel achieved his first career hat-trick in any form of cricket. On this achievement, Harshal said,
  

  This is the first-time I’ve taken a hat-trick in my life. I have not done this even in a school game. I have been on hat-tricks six times in the IPL, but this is the first time I’ve gotten one.” ^[3]The Times of India

  

• On 9 April 2021, Harshal Patel took 5 wickets for 27 runs against the Mumbai Indians, making him the first bowler to take a 5-wicket haul against the Mumbai Indians in the IPL. ^[4]Hindustan Times

• On 25 April 2021, in a match for the Royal Challengers Bangalore against the Chennai Super Kings, Harshal Patel set a record for the most runs given in an IPL over. He conceded 37 runs in the 20th over to Ravindra Jadeja, who scored (6, 6, N6, 6, 2, 6, 4). ^[5]Hindustan Times

• In the 2021 Indian Premier League season, Harshal Patel took 32 wickets, making him the top wicket-taker for a single season of the tournament. This matched Dwayne Bravo‘s record of 32 wickets in an IPL season. ^[6]Sportstar

• On 13 October 2021, Harshal Patel was chosen as a net bowler for India for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

• Harshal Patel played his first T20 International match against New Zealand on 19 November 2021 at the JSCA International Stadium Complex. He performed well and was named the player of the match for taking two wickets. In his second T20I match, he again took two wickets.

  

• In June 2022, Patel was added to India’s team for the T20 International series against Ireland.

• In March 2023, while talking on the RCB podcast, he opened up about how he dealt with the death of his sister in April 2022 and the birth of his son seven days after his sister’s death. He said,
  

  When my sister passed away, I was in grief for a week. She passed away on April 9 (2022). I was in quarantine. I was talking to my niece and nephew and everyone back home. I wanted to go, hug them and cry with them. But we were doing it on the phone, because that was the only option available. Then seven days later, my son was born. So, I kind of went numb for a week, 10 days. I did not really know what I was feeling — whether I should be happy, whether I should be sad. It would all come in waves.”

  He added,

  There were times when I probably cried three-four times in my room every day. And then I would see my son on FaceTime and, and be extremely joyful. When you have those polar emotions, pulling at you constantly, it can be quite draining.” ^[7]The Indian Express

• On 19 December 2023, Harshal was acquired by Punjab Kings for Rs. 11.75 crore in the 2024 IPL auction against the base price of Rs. 2 crore.

• Harshal Patel chose to be a fast bowler after he was inspired by Zaheer Khan’s knuckle balls and effective slow deliveries in the 2011 World Cup.

• Harshal Patel is known as one of the best bowlers for accurately bowling slower balls, mainly using offcutters. ^[8]The Cricket Monthly

• He loves to play the guitar and has performed at various events.