Harshal Patel revealed he wanted to play only for the RCB in the IPL.
Ahead of the upcoming IPL 2023, Indian pacer Harshal Patel recalled the IPL 2022 mega auction when he was snapped up for a massive sum of Rs 10.75 crore by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB).
The star pacer revealed that he expected his price to be around Rs 7 crore at the IPL auction in 2022, given his impressive performance in the previous season, but he was stunned when he went for almost double his expectation to the RCB.
Harshal Patel said in the latest episode of the RCB podcast: “A lot of people asked me what my expectations were after the auction and I said that I was expecting between 6 and 7 crores. I had looked at people in my category in the past 3 or 4 seasons and none of them had made more than that bracket in the past big auctions.”
The pacer added, “So, I thought, okay, I can safely expect between 5-7 crores without hurting myself too much. A lot of people around me told me that it could go into double figures and I just did not believe them. When that happened, it was a pleasant shock.”
Meanwhile, the Indian star said that he didn’t want more fighting between the franchisees for him at the IPL 2022 auction, as he wanted to play for Bangalore in the T20 league.
Patel recalled, “When the bidding was going on, and SRH and RCB were going neck and neck, at the final bid (Rs 10.75 crores) I thought to myself that I want to play for RCB and I did not want one more bid.”
On being asked about how his life has changed with money, he said: “Money gives me choices and freedom. If I continue or don't continue to play at this price, I don't think that I need to base any of my life choices or decisions based on how much money am I getting.”
Patel signed off by saying, “I am not an extravagant person, and I don't need a lot of money, but money is a tool to freedom. And that's how I look at it.”
Here is the video: