Indian pacer Harshal Patel feels that he has to keep working on different bowling variations to extend his international career as he does not have the express pace. The right-arm bowler pulled off a brilliant bowling performance on Tuesday against South Africa at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.
Harshal Patel took four wickets conceding just 25 runs at an economy rate of 7.9 in his four overs. His effort led India to a 48-run win over South Africa making a comeback in the five-match T20I series. The visitors are still trailing 2-1 in the series.
Ahead of the fourth T20I against South Africa, Harshal expressed that he has to develop skills to be effective at the International level. He added that as he does not have the pace like Umran Malik, he focuses on variations. Harshal said to PTI:
“I can’t worry about pace because I can’t bowl fast as Umran Malik. I have to develop skills to render myself effective at the international level. Have never been an express fast bowler though on a good day I can go near 140 kmph.”
“My focus has always been to develop skills around my bowling and whatever limitations and advantages I have in my bowling. I would certainly prefer to pay on slow wickets. It gives you a fighting chance.”
“If you can keep playing on pitches like Delhi it can hamper your confidence a little bit. We have bowlers who can bowl on all pitches, but it brings them more into the game when there are slightly slower pitches and slightly bigger ground dimensions,” he added.
Harshal Patel is our Top Performer from the second innings for brilliant bowling figures of 4/25 đź‘Źđź‘Ź
A look at his bowling summary here 👇👇@Paytm #INDvSA | @HarshalPatel23 pic.twitter.com/OslHOwlGyS
— BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2022
Focus is on trying to execute the best possible delivery: Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel made his India debut last November. Since then, he has taken 17 wickets in 11 matches at an average of 19.53. The pacer expressed that he tries to stay ahead of the bowler and focuses on executing the best delivery in the match. He said,
“To be honest, people have been trying to anticipate what I am bowling for the last two years (in IPL). With every bowler, the longer they play, the opposition will realize what the bowlers’ strengths and patterns are.”
“As a bowler, my job is to stay one step ahead of them. At the end of the day, you can have 15 plans but on a particular day in a pressure situation, if you don’t go out and execute with confidence, everything doesn’t fall in place. My focus is on trying to execute the best possible delivery at that point in time,” he added.
The fourth T20I between India and South Africa is all set to take place on June 17 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
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