Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel said that he likes to bowl under pressure after RCB’s 14-run win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator of the ongoing IPL 2022 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Wednesday, May 25.
He returned with the brilliant figures of 1/25 in his four overs as RCB restricted LSG to 193/6 to set the date with Rajasthan Royals (RR) for the second qualifier on May 27 at Narendra Modi Stadium.
The RCB pacer said that he always wanted to test himself under pressure by bowling in the slog overs while hailing Rajat Patidar for his unbeaten century (112*) against the LSG.
Harshal Patel said in the post-match press conference: “I want to bowl in tough situations. Whether I would be able to deliver or not, I don't really know, I can't say. But I want to be in those situations, there is no doubt about that and I have been wanting to do that for the past 2-3 years, I have been doing that for Haryana, and I wanted to do it at the bigger stage and I will continue to put myself in that situation.”
Praising Patidar, the pacer said: “The way he played, I really don't need to say anything. We have been seeing this caliber in the practice games. Even last year when he was with us, he got a few opportunities but could not do justice to his talent and caliber. We knew he was a special player. When he came in as a replacement player this year, we looked determined.”
Patel also revealed his plan when LSG needed 35 runs off 18 deliveries in the match. He said, “I was nervous because you are defending 35 of 18. When there was a wide and they got six runs, I realized that the wide yorker wasn't coming through today. So, I thought it was better to follow the plan that worked for me in the first two overs. The idea was to get KL Rahul (79) and Marcus Stoinis out, luckily that worked.”
Meanwhile, Patel injured his right hand while fielding during an IPL 15 match against Gujarat Titans (GT).
Speaking about the same, Patel revealed: “Luckily, I did not have to make any changes to my skill because the skin superficially has healed well. So, I could bowl my slower deliveries and whatever I wanted to bowl. We tried everything in practice yesterday and I bowled 30-40 deliveries.”
He signed off by saying, “I was pretty confident that this will hold up as long as I don't get another impact. I did not have to make changes, luckily it healed.”
(With ANI Inputs)
