IPL 2021: If batters don’t pick my slower balls, I thought bowler will find it difficult too – Harshal Patel

Royal Challengers Bangalore’s medium pacer Harshal Patel has impressed in the ongoing season of the IPL. Patel is currently the Purple Cap holder with 23 scalps in 10 matches.

The right-arm bowler from Haryana snared a hat-trick against defending champions Mumbai Indians as he dismissed Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, and Rahul Chahar on consecutive deliveries at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

Patel revealed his strategy for the hat-trick which he bowled to Rahul Chahar. The 30-year bowler stated that as the batters found it difficult to pick his slower ball, the bowler will also find it difficult too. Patel bowled a perfect dipping yorker to Chahar, which the leg-spinner could not pick and was completely flummoxed by the low full toss.

Patel returned with impressive figures of 4-17 in 3.1 overs he bowled. The right-arm medium pacer was right on the money and has grown in confidence in the ongoing season.

Harshal Patel said after the game, “I was thinking if the batters can’t pick my slower balls then the bowlers also will find it difficult to spot (referring to Chahar’s wicket that got him the hat-trick). I just bet on that. This is my sixth time being on a hat-trick and finally got one, so pretty happy. He (Pollard) is somebody who can do damage if you bowl in his areas, we wanted to take him wide and then once you drag him wide you have the option to bluff him, that came off really well. The way Siraj started, he’s someone who sets the tempo for us and the way Maxi and Chahal bowled in the middle overs was absolutely brilliant. They were under pressure at the death and we executed really well”.

Harshal Patel has played a key role in RCB’s success in the ongoing season and he will look to continue the good show. Patel has bowled with a fine average of 13.57 and he has delivered the goods in the death overs for the team.

On the other hand, Yuzvendra Chahal also scalped three wickets and conceded 11 runs in his four overs whereas Glenn Maxwell bagged a brace for RCB. The Virat Kohli-led team will next face Rajasthan Royals at the same venue on 29th September.