Harshal Patel has become a different bowler ever since he joined Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021. He ended the season with 33 wickets to his name and closely worked with AB De Villiers for an entire season with the franchise. The former South African skipper announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on November 19. This also means that he will no longer be a part of the IPL.
Harshal Patel revealed his conversations with De Villiers in the post-match presentation. He got 2/25 in his T20I debut dismissing Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips.
He reckoned that AB De Villiers had suggested him not to change his tactics even despite being hit for 37 runs in an over by Jadeja in IPL and noted it helped him a lot.
“AB has had a massive impact in my career. I have always been a silent observer of him. Just before the UAE leg (of the IPL) I had asked him how I can reduce my big overs. I have conceded even 30 runs in an over in the IPL and I wanted to avoid that. He told me to not change my tactics when the batsman hits me on my good deliveries,’ Harshal said in a press conference after Saturday’s match.
Sir Jadeja is the champion 🥳#CSKvRCB #jadeja pic.twitter.com/6HGUgtkoZY
— Prof. Boies Pilled Bell 🪄 (@Lil_Boies45) April 25, 2021
Harshal also reflected on his maiden outing for India with the ball. He brought out all the skills that he had bowling in the death overs with a mixture of slower deliveries and change-ups. He said that his plan was to bowl good deliveries and make it harder for the batsmen to hit.
You Have To Force The Batsman To Hit: Harshal Patel
“You have to force the batsman to hit your good deliveries instead of changing it as soon as you get hit because that is something that the batsman expects. That is something that stayed with me throughout the UAE leg of IPL and it will stay with me throughout my career,” he added.
The final T20I will be played on Sunday. Both teams then play a two-match Test series at Kanpur (Nov 25-19) and Mumbai (Dec 3-7).
Get the latest update on T20 World Cup and other cricket news. Like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram for more such updates.
