Indian medium-pacer Harshal Patel has returned to Gujarat after an extensive 14-year stint with Haryana, ESPNCricinfo reported on Tuesday (September 2).

The move comes ahead of the Ranji Trophy 2025-26, set to begin next month. Harshal parting ways would be another major blow for Haryana this season, following Jayant Yadav’s exit.

According to the report, the paperwork has been completed and Harshal is all set to join Gujarat’s pre-season camp, starting later this month with a tri-series against fellow state sides Baroda and Saurashtra.

This marks a homecoming for the Gujarat-born Harshal, who had made his List A debut for the state in 2008-09. He shifted his base to Haryana after the 2010 Under-19 World Cup, having struggled to break through further in Gujarat’s setup.

Harshal Patel made his first-class debut for Haryana in 2011-12 and went on to establish himself as the team’s mainstay across formats. He has claimed 246 scalps from 74 first-class games at an average of 24, including 12 five-wicket hauls.

“Right from 2010-11 since my Under-19 days, almost the entirety of my professional career has been with Haryana, I owe a lot to them. If that move to Haryana as an 18-year-old hadn’t worked out for me I would have probably moved to the USA and not played cricket in India," Harshal said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.

Harshal splits his time between Ahmedabad, where he stays and the USA, where his family members reside.

“It was getting difficult for me to be away from the family for long periods of time. So I wanted to come back and see if I could finish my career here. Glad I got an opportunity to do that," he added.

Another domestic team had expressed interest in him, but Harshal Patel wanted to check Gujarat’s inclination before taking a call.

“I first asked Anil Patel [secretary, Gujarat Cricket Association] and he was gracious enough to say, ‘this is your home, welcome back.’ Having come back, I’m open to play everything and anything that the team wants me to play," Harshal said.