Patel emerged as one of the richest players in the IPL 2024 auction. The Indian speedster had a base price of Rs 2 crores. In the 2023 IPL season, Harshal took part in the T20 tournament with the RCB. He has played 92 matches in his IPL career, and scalped 111 wickets.

He was bagged by Punjab Kings for a price tag of Rs 11.75 crore. Patel talked about his expectations from the auction and spoke to JioCinema, “Honestly, the management would have felt, and even I did, that my last season was average. They may have felt that I didn’t justify that price tag. So, I was expecting that they would release me. At the same time, in previous years before last, I had done really well for RCB, so I thought that would also probably retain me. But you know, the franchises and players’ thoughts may not match.”

When he was quizzed about his hefty price tag and if it is justified or not, he replied, “Every team needs an Indian fast bowler, especially those who can bowl in the death. Even though I didn’t have a great season last year, it didn’t mean I lost skills or lost confidence. I feel that if I am executing well, I can bowl in any situation.”

Harshal will see a lot of familiar faces during his time with PBKS, with the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Shikhar Dhawan already a part of the franchise.

“It feels really nice. A lot of these guys especially the fast bowlers, I really rate them very highly. With Kagiso Rabada, I have played for 2-3 years in Delhi and enjoy a great relationship with him. Obviously, with Shikhar bhai, I enjoy a great relationship. So, hopefully, we’ll play good cricket and overcome the title drought,” Harshal added.

The post IPL Auction 2024: Harshal Patel sparks controversy as he leaves Royal Challengers Banglore appeared first on Cricket Country.

Lucknow Super Giants were 37/3 at the end of power-play, with Royal Challengers Bangalore on top of them in a run chase of 213 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium but Marcus Stoinis brought Lucknow back with his impressive 30-ball 65 while Nicholas Pooran smashed a sensational 19-ball 62 to take the team to a last-ball thrilling one-wicket victory.

Mohammed Siraj gave Bangalore an ideal start as Kyle Mayers chopped on to his stumps. Wayne Parnell dealt double blows to Lucknow in the fourth over, having Deepak Hooda nick behind a cutter to Dinesh Karthik and then forcing Krunal Pandya to edge off an outswinger to the keeper.

After ending the power-play at 37/3, Stoinis began his onslaught in the eighth over by flicking off the pads for six off Harshal Patel, then slashed through point and smacked a straight drive down the ground for back-to-back fours.

Twitterati started reacting after Lucknow Super Giants beat Royal Challengers Bangalore in an IPL match:

Dekho kitna bahar hai ?
Spinner hota toh aaram se mankad tha pic.twitter.com/LyGBDhWdMg

— ayush (@ayush08__) April 10, 2023

Rcb can’t even do a #mankad
And they say #cupnamde
Agle saal please practice naam de.#Jokers #RCBvsLSG #vintagercb #gautamgambhir #LSGvRCB #ViratKohli #ipl2023 #whatamatch pic.twitter.com/p1ad1nQ64C

— Rishabh Pareek (@prishabhtweets) April 10, 2023

He was within the crease but harsal was waiting for him to go out rather than doing bowling , mankad is right when actually the batter is way away that baller do have time to do that but he was unsuccessful because he was waiting not bowling pic.twitter.com/SNMJosSTHL

— Bhoomika ? (@KlrSunshine) April 10, 2023

Brief Scores: Royal Challengers Bangalore 212/2 in 20 overs (Faf du Plessis 79 not out, Virat Kohli 61; Amit Mishra 1/18, Mark Wood 1/32) lost to Lucknow Super Giants 213/9 in 20 overs (Marcus Stoinis 65, Nicholas Pooran 62; Wayne Parnell 3/41, Harshal Patel 2/48) by 1 wicket.

The post IPL 2023: Twitterati Reacts After Harshal Patel Misses Mankad During RCB vs LSG Match appeared first on Cricket Country.

Harshal’s elder sister passed away early last year leaving the Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer a numb person. But a moment of joy was around the curve as he welcomed a baby boy into his family.

While speaking on RCB Podcast Season 2, Harshal revealed how he dealt with extremities in life and career.

“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 didn’t really know what I was feeling – whether I should be happy, whether I should be sad. It would all come in waves.

“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,” said Harshal.

So, how did he manage to overcome that volatile period in his life and get back to cricket?

“When something good happens or something bad happens I want to be stable. So those two weeks were a great opportunity for me to see how well I can deal with that. So, I tried to console my family in the best possible way and they tried to console me in the best possible way and we got through it. I mean, it comes with loads of introspection. If you’re not honest with yourself, then it’s a fool’s errand. If you’re constantly trying to find reasons outside of yourself of why you’re not happy or why you’re not successful, then you’re not moving in the right direction. I just don’t want to be affected by things that are happening outside of my control and consciousness, and just be a good calming presence. When things are going wrong, I want to be the person people can lean on,” said Harshal.

Harshal was the Purple Cap holder in IPL 2021, plucking 32 wickets for RCB. Despite releasing him, RCB went all out in the auction room to buy back the pacer.

RCB splurged INR 10.75 crore to reacquire him from the auction and Harshal said he was pleasantly shocked to see such a high bid for him.

“A lot of people asked me what my expectations were. I said I was expecting probably 6 or 7 crores because I had looked at people in my category for the past three or four seasons, and none of them made more money than that in the big auction. So I thought I can safely expect to make 5-6-7 crore. But a lot of people around me told me that it could go into double figures. I just didn’t believe them because I’m a cautious optimist. So, when that happened, it was a pleasant shock. I still remember SRH and RCB were going neck to neck and it went over INR 10 crore. I really wanted to come back and play for RCB. So I thought to myself, Okay, it’s enough. I don’t want one more bid, I’m okay with the money I’ve got, I want to go back to RCB,” said Harshal.

But Harshal emphasised that the amount has given him a certain degree of freedom in life to make choices. In fact, Harshal had joined the Delhi Capitals for Rs 20 lakh in 2018 before getting traded to RCB ahead of IPL 2021.

“It gives me choices, freedom. So if I continue to play at this price or even if I don’t continue to play at this price, I don’t really think I need to base any of my life decisions on how much money am I getting? I’m not an extravagant person. I don’t really need a lot of money. But money is a tool to freedom. That’s how I look at it,” said Harshal.

The post There Were Times When I Probably Cried Three-Four Times In My Room Every Day: RCB Pacer Harshal Patel appeared first on Cricket Country.

“I can understand that he’s coming back after a long layoff and may take some time to settle down but let’s not get carried away, Jasprit Bumrah in all the games that he will play will be extremely effective – so that may not happen.”

“Having said that, I do believe Jasprit Bumrah, the kind of bowling combination they have right now, and Harshal Patel also, both of them can come good at the right time for India,” said Karim on ‘Sports Over The Top’ show on Sports18.

Bumrah looked fully fit and even took out Aaron Finch with a brute of a yorker at Nagpur. But he is yet to get back to his old rhythm, seen from him being taken to cleaners by Cameron Green and Tim David in his figures of 0/50 in his four overs, the most he’s ever conceded in T20I cricket.

Harshal, meanwhile, conceded 49 runs for no wicket in four overs at Mohali. He then bowled two overs that went for 32 in an eight-overs a side affair at Nagpur, and then bowled just two overs for figures of 1/18 at Hyderabad, including conceding just seven runs and take out David. In all, Harshal had an economy rate of 12.37 in the three-match series.

Karim went on to explain that with the fickle nature of T20I format bringing its share of ups and downs, bowlers need to back their mastery and expertise in comeback post injury.

“That is true (on form taking time to come on return from injury), but at times we just tend to get carried away and want pacer bowlers to deliver in a very effective manner in all the T20 formats – it is not going to happen.”

“The entire format is based so much on unpredictability. So, in one game you may have a very good outing, second game some of the batters may get after you. What is more important is that particular bowler is supposed to have faith in his skill and abilities. So, one can see that in Jasprit Bumrah,” he added.

The post Jasprit Bumrah, Harshal Patel Can Come Good At The Right Time For India: Saba Karim appeared first on Cricket Country.

With the victory, India also achieved a unique record of clinching their 21st T20I win in a calendar year — the most ever recorded by a team in men’s T20Is. Pakistan had held the record until now with 20 T20I wins in 2021.

A score of 187 to win was by no means an easy target but former captain Virat Kohli (63 off 48 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (69 off 36) made it possible with a century partnership that laid the platform for Hardik Pandya to complete the task with just one ball remaining.

“There are a lot of areas (where India showed improvement), particularly, our death bowling coming to the party,” said Sharma following the win, which sets the side beautifully for the white-ball series against South Africa — three T20I and an equal number of ODIs — in September-October.

“It (Hyderabad) is a special place. We have had a lot of memories with the India team and with Deccan Chargers (IPL). It was a great occasion (the game). We wanted to put up a show, and we did that well. The biggest positives was (were) different individuals stepping up with the ball and bat. When you are sitting back and watching all of that happening, you feel nice as a management. Sometimes you can err in doing a lot of things.

“This is T20 cricket, and the margins of error are very small. I thought we took our chances, we were brave. Sometimes it didn’t come off, but that is a learning we will take,” he added.

Sharma also hoped both Harshal Patel and Jasprit Bumrah, who returned for the series after prolonged absence due to injuries, will settle down in their groove ahead of the series against South Africa and the ICC T20 World Cup in Australia next month.

“Those two (Harshal and Bumrah) who came in are coming after a long time. Knowing their (Australia’s) middle and lower order is tough to bowl at. Don’t really want to look into that. They are coming after a break, they will take time. Hopefully, they can get back in the groove,” said Sharma.

The post Rohit Sharma Shares His Opinion On Jasprit Bumrah And Harshal Patel’s Performance In T20I Series vs Australia appeared first on Cricket Country.

Ravindra Jadeja, who picked up a knee injury during the Asia Cup 2022 and is still recovering from the surgery, misses out and Axar Patel takes his place as a like-for-like replacement. The selectors also opted for experience in the form of Ravichandran Ashwin, in absence of Jadeja.

The top-order picks itself with Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav assured of a spot in the team, let alone the squad while Deepak Hooda has also been included. The selectors had a tricky selection in terms of who will keep wickets for India. Rishabh Pant’s form in the T20Is has not been great off late and leaving Dinesh Karthik out would always have been a tough call to make but the selectors have gone in with both the players for the World Cup.

Avesh Khan misses out and Mohammed Shami, who was also one of the contenders to make it to the team with the World Cup being held in Australia has been kept as stand by. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Bumrah, and Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh make up the pace composition of the side with Hardik Pandya playing as an pace-bowling all-rounder.

T20 World Cup 2022 Squad, India: Rohit Sharma (C), KL Rahul (VC), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, R Pant (WK), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Hardik Pandya, R. Ashwin, Y Chahal, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, B Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh

Standby players – Mohd. Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar

The post T20 World Cup 2022, Team India Squad Selection Highlights: Bumrah, Harshal Back As Shami Misses Out; Pant, Karthik Included appeared first on Cricket Country.

Harshal Patel is currently with the Indian cricket team on the West Indies tour and missed the ongoing fourth T20I of the series at the Central Broward Regional Park Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida. This week in the T20I series between India and West Indies has seen some turbulence. The start of the second T20I at Warner Park in Basseterre was delayed by three hours due to a delay in luggage arrival.

Then the USA visas of both teams were made available at the eleventh hour in Guyana, thanks to the intervention by their government, which paved the way for the Florida leg of the series to happen as per schedule at Central Broward Park in Lauderhill on Saturday and Sunday. India arrive with a 2-1 lead in the five-match series and would be seeking to seal the series with a win in the ongoing fourth match.

Missing a top pacer like Harshal Patel would be a blow for the Indian cricket team in the Asia Cup 2022. India will open their Asia Cup 2022 campaign against Pakistan on Sunday, 28th August.  The final of the tournament will be played on Sunday, 11th September. India will look to win the tournament and gain some valuable confidence ahead of the much-awaited ICC T20 World Cup in Australia later this year.

Asia Cup 2022 will be played in the T20 format to serve as ideal preparation ahead for the World Cup. While India will begin their tournament with a match against arch-rivals Pakistan in Dubai, the first match of the Asia Cup will be played between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan in Dubai as well on Saturday, 27th August.

All the matches of the Asia Cup 2022 will start at 7:30 pm. The tournament was scheduled to take place in Sri Lanka but the hosts were changed due to the recent political tensions in the country.

The post Breaking: Harshal Patel Set To Miss Asia Cup, Doubtful For T20 World Cup Due To Injury appeared first on Cricket Country.

Harshal has been a champion death bowler for India and his absence was clearly visible during the second T20I that India lost by five wickets. The team could only post 138 on the board after Obed McCoy’s sensational bowling performance which saw him take six wickets.

West Indies got off to a good start during the chase but India pulled things back with a few wickets in the middle overs. The equation came down to 27 off the last three and 10 off the final over. Avesh Khan was given the responsibility of bowling the last over but he conceded a six and a boundary of the first two balls to end a disappointing game.

Had Harshal been part of the game, things could have been different for India. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma also made a surprising call when he handed the ball to Avesh Khan despite Bhuvneshwar Kumar having two overs left in his spell. Justifying his decision, Rohit said that trying out Avesh Khan in the death was a strategy to check how he can perform in these situations.

“We know what Bhuvi does for us; he has been doing it for years. Unless you give chances to guys like Avesh and Arshdeep you’ll never know. But it is just one game. They have the skills and the talent and it is all about backing them,” said Rohit.

Meanwhile, the loss has ended India’s winning streak on the West Indies tour. India had won the ODI series 3-0 before winning the first T20. The third T20I will be played on August 2.

The post Harshal Patel Ruled Out Of Third T20I Against West Indies Due To A Rib Injury appeared first on Cricket Country.

There were other positives for the team as well, with players like R Ashwin, Kuldeep Sen, Prasidh Krishna and Riyan Parag delivering satisfactory performances. Riyan Parag didn’t get a lot of opportunities to bat but was electric in the field. He scored 183 runs in 14 innings, including a match-winning half-century against RCB.

Parag scored 56 off 31 balls and helped RR post a challenging 144, which they later defended. However, the match hogged the limelight due to all the wrong reasons as Parag had an altercation with Harshal Patel and RCB players. The youngster has now opened up on the incident and revealed what actually transpired.

“Last year, Harshal Patel had dismissed me when we were playing against RCB. I was walking back. Then, he made a hand gesture telling me to go away. I didn’t see that on the spot. I saw that when I went back to the hotel and saw the replay. It stuck in my mind since,” Parag recalled as he narrated the incident during a gaming stream on Rooter.

“Now, when I hit him (Harshal) in the last over (against RCB in IPL 2022), I did the same gesture. I didn’t say anything, I didn’t abuse. But then, Siraj called me. Harshal didn’t say anything.

“When the innings ended, Siraj called and said, “Hey, come here, come here’. He said, ‘you’re a kid, behave like a kid’. I told him, ‘bhaiya, I’m not saying anything to you’. By then, players from both the teams came and it ended there. Later, Harshal didn’t shake my hand. which I thought was a little immature,” Parag further said.

Chasing 145, RCB was bowled out for a mere 115, losing the game by 29 runs.

The post ‘You’re A Kid, Behave Like A Kid’ – Riyan Parag Reveals The Reason Behind His Altercation With RCB Players appeared first on Cricket Country.

Here are the reasons why Bangalore start favourites against Rajasthan:

Rajat Patidar: The stylish right-hander shot to limelight with a breathtaking hundred in the Eliminator against Lucknow. His form would not only give him confidence, but pass belief to everyone else in the dressing-room. While Bangalore look to ride high, Patidar would be expected to come up with the goods again.

Wanindu Hasaranga: He has been the pick of the bowlers for Bangalore. He has picked up 25 wickets in 15 games thus far. He would be a big threat for Rajasthan. The SL spinner would also have a favourable match-up to look forward to against Sanju Samson. Hasaranga has dismissed the Rajasthan captain on five occasions conceding merely 18 runs.

The post Rajat Patidar, Wanindu Hasaranga to Harshal Patel; Reasons Why RCB Look Favourites to Beat RR in Qualifier 2 appeared first on Cricket Country.