IPL 2022: Not many people want to do that job – RCB’s Mike Hesson on Harshal Patel’s death bowling

Royal Challengers Bangalore director of cricket Mike Hesson lauded Harshal Patel for his accurate death bowling. Patel has been a revelation for RCB in the last two seasons of the IPL and he has nailed his role as a death-overs specialist.

The right-arm medium pacer from Haryana had scalped 32 wickets in the previous season of the IPL and had bagged the Purple cap.

Patel is known for his slower balls and he can bowl accurately at the death overs, especially his yorkers are mostly right on the money. The 31-year-old makes great use of the slower decks and bowls according to his field placements, which is very important in T20 cricket.

In the ongoing season of Tata IPL 2022, Patel has snared 18 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 19.77 and an economy rate of 7.68. Ergo, he has played an instrumental role in taking RCB to the playoff stages.

Patel has been a go-to-bowler for Faf du Plessis at the fag end of the innings and he has delivered more often than not.

In a video shared by RCB, Hesson said, “Harshal Patel has done what we know he can do. He creates pressure and takes wickets. He loves the death overs. Not many people put their hands up and say I want to do that job.”

On the other hand, Wanindu Hasaranga has also done a good job for RCB in IPL 2022. Hasaranga has scalped 24 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 15.08 and an economy rate of 7.38. Hesson added Hasaranga has got crucial wickets for RCB in the ongoing season.

“Wanindu Hasaranga has been exceptional in terms of those middle-over wickets for us. You can only control the backend of the innings if you take wickets in the middle and the wickets that he has got have been critical.”

Furthermore, Josh Hazlewood has been exceptional for RCB as he has taken 15 wickets in 10 matches in the lucrative tournament.

“Josh Hazlewood shows experience and is a banker. He’s got big wickets for us and has shown his skills in the death overs as well.”

RCB will face LSG in the Eliminator at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Wednesday.