Pre-game anxiety is a very big thing for a stage like the IPL. Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fast bowler Harshal Patel recently disclosed his battle with pre-game anxiety in the IPL. Indian Premier League (IPL) is the biggest stage of them all. If you perform well in an IPL season, then you will have a very big chance of representing India in limited-overs cricket.
Harshal Patel, was one of the stars in IPL 2021 as he won the purple cap for the most number of wickets. He opened up about this problem and told how the great AB De Villiers helped him overcome this problem. Talking about the pre-game anxiety, Harshal Patel on Breakfast With Champions, Harshal said:
“I went through a cycle of crippling pre-game anxiety. Like I would have to go and pee probably once every two minutes, right from when I wake up on game day to the moment where I bowl the first ball. The anxiety was so bad and I used to get so exhausted that I would want the match to end so that I could go and sleep. I still have it but now I look at it as a part of the game.”
Incidentally, Harshal Patel joined the RCB ahead of IPL 2021. This trade proved to be a blessing in disguise for them as he took 32 wickets in the IPL season and equalled the record for the most number of wickets in an IPL season.
“You get an affirmation that you are not alone” – Harshal Patel
Then Harshal Patel spoke about how AB De Villiers helped him get through this problem. He told what conversation he had with the former Royal Challengers Bangalore cricketer and how it helped him a lot.
“I remember probably last season when I was having a conversation with AB. He said the same thing, ‘I am pissing myself before every game.’ If that is happening to somebody like AB de Villiers, who am I? You get an affirmation that you’re not alone,” concluded Harshal.
Harshal Patel is still one of the best bowlers that are running for the World Cup spot for Team India in October in Australia. If he continues his performances, there will be no shadow of a doubt that he will make that plane down under.
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