Harshal Patel picked up five wickets in the recently concluded three-T20I series against West Indies.
Former India cricketer Ajay Jadeja has named medium pacer Harshal Patel as a key bowler for India in the upcoming 2022 T20 World Cup. Harshal picked up five wickets in the three-match T20I series against West Indies which concluded on Sunday (February 20).
The 2022 T20 World Cup will be hosted by Australia, who are also the defending champion. Speaking on Cricbuzz, Jadeja said that Harshal can be effective on Australian grounds which have big boundaries.
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"The T20 World Cup is a long way away but he is definitely a tick for the World Cup at this stage. The more you play Harshal, people will get used to something. They keep watching you and the pattern of your bowling - when do you bowl slower ones and yorkers.
"If you expose him more, he might be less effective. But Australia grounds are huge, where he would be very useful. At this moment, if the Indian team had to be picked, you’ll probably write his name alongside Bumrah."
Harshal bowled very well in the death overs of the third T20I to help India beat West Indies by 17 runs. He picked up 3 for 22 in four overs and Jadeja lauded his performance.
"From the time he has come into the Indian team, he has done everything right. Rohit has used him brilliantly as well, bringing him in those crucial overs once the field spreads. Every time he feels like he needs a wicket, he brings him on, which is very clever.
“West Indies were moving along (in the chase on Sunday) but Harshal Patel slowed them down. Every time his over came, the target seemed to go away a little bit. And then West Indies would try and catch up - four overs for 22 for a guy who bowls mostly at the end,” said Jadeja.
Jadeja added that Harshal has a similar role to Jasprit Bumrah while defending the target, although India's star pacer has many varieties. "I think Harshal Patel’s probably playing the key role at the moment when we are defending. It is almost like what Jasprit Bumrah was doing.
"But with Bumrah it’s many things. What surprises me is that with Harshal Patel it’s just that slower one and people still have no clue what to do with it."
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)