Haryana's Harshal Patel who is famous for his death overs bowling is all set to return to the Indian team after recovering from a side strain that kept him out of the recent Asia Cup 2022, as he prepares for the 3-match T20I series against Australia, which begins September 20 in Mohali.
The 31-year-old has established himself as one of the best bowlers in the shortest format of the game in the last couple of years. Harshal stated that the head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma backed him completely and it helped his recovery.
“They (India coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma) have been nothing but supportive. It does take a bit of pressure off you. Because sometimes people make foolish decisions when they’re returning to play. They’re either trying to do too much or trying to push too hard because they feel that their place is in danger or for whatever reason,” Patel told ESPNCricinfo ahead of the fixture.
“But if you know for a fact that the team management will remember what you’ve done prior to getting injured, and those performances and contributions are not forgotten, then that gives you a sense of calm or comfort that once you go back into the team-obviously you will have to perform again and again and that goes for every single cricketer-you know that you will hold that place in the team,” he further added.
He has also been selected in the 15-member Indian squad for the T20 World Cup 2022 as well, and he is super excited for the same.
Obviously, I am super excited. I will get nervous at some point, but at this point of time, I'm just excited. The two World Cups India won in 2007 and 2011 were memorable, and I vividly remember where I was and what I was doing. After we won the World Cup, like every kid, we took our scooters and went onto the roads to dance and jump and shout. It would be great if I could play, and if we end up winning the World Cup, to have that circle completed would be a great feeling."
Harshal has picked 23 wickets from 17 games with a strike rate of 14.6 and an economy of 8.58. He is expected to play a crucial role in India’s T20 World Cup campaign as a death overs specialist.
The team will rely on him to get back to his wicket-taking ability in the series and trouble the opposition batters.
