Indian pacer Harshal Patel expressed his happiness after helping his side defeat New Zealand in the second T20I at Ranchi.
Team India thumped New Zealand by seven wickets in the second T20I to take an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the series.
Harshal Patel had a great outing in his first match for the country. Despite the conditions being dripping wet due to dew, the right-arm pacer executed his skills brilliantly and helped his side restrict New Zealand to a total of 153 runs after they went off to a flyer.
While the other two pacers struggled with the ball being wet, Harshal Patel was the standout performer and returned with the figures of 2/25 on his debut and was also awarded Player of the Match.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Harshal Patel said that he had a great game and couldn’t have asked for a better debut. He admitted that he had to build his game from the ground up.
He added that he has learned a lot from his journey which will even hold him in a good state even after cricket.
"The match did run through. When you are in the process you just get engrossed. It will sink in and it has been a great game. I couldn't have asked for a better debut. The progress is gradual and slow. For someone like me who is not exceptionally talented, I had to build my game from the ground up.
“I made mistakes and then found things that I can and cannot do well. It has been a great journey and has taught me many lessons which will hold me in good stead even after cricket," Harshal Patel said.
Patel said that with the ball being wet, he couldn’t bowl his yorkers and loopy slower deliveries in these conditions. He admitted that yorker is a delivery which he likes to use and this is another platform for him to show his skills and enjoy whatever comes his way.
"I feel you don't need too many variations. You just need to know what works for you and need to package it well. I couldn't bowl those yorkers and loopy slower ones in these conditions.
“The yorker is a delivery I would like to use and get better at. I have seen myself fall into shiny things so many times. It is another platform for me to come, perform and show my skills. Just want to do that and enjoy whatever comes my way," he said.
Chasing the target, Indian openers KL Rahul (65) and Rohit Sharma(55) stitched a 117-run opening partnership to put New Zealand in all sorts of trouble. Though Tim Southee bowled a wonderful spell and troubled Indian batters, in the end, Rishabh Pant smashed two consecutive sixes to take his team home with 16 balls to spare.
India and New Zealand will now play in the dead-rubber third T20I at Kolkata on 21st November.
(ANI inputs)
