Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa lauded pacer Harshal Patel for his heroics against New Zealand in the second T20I, saying that he possesses incredible skills and knows how to execute them in pressure situations.
Harshal Patel came into the limelight after his heroics in the IPL 2021, where he took 32 wickets and was the owner of the purple cap. His heroics in the marquee tournament earned him a national call-up in the ongoing T20I series against New Zealand.
Harshal Patel impressed each and everyone on his debut for Team India against New Zealand in the second T20I at Ranchi. In dripping wet conditions due to dew, where almost ever pacer struggled to get his line and length correctly, Patel executed his skills brilliantly and helped his side restrict the opposition to a total of 152 runs after they went off to a flyer.
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He bowled brilliantly at the death and returned with the figures of 2/25 and also was awarded the Player of the Match.
Lauding Harshal Patel for his heroics, Indian cricketer Robin Uthappa said that the pacer will definitely be up there with Jasprit Bumrah as he possesses incredible skills and knows how to execute them in pressure situations.
He stressed how he came back stronger after bowling a no-ball and conceding a six to dismissing Glenn Phillips.
"If you consider a death-overs spot, he would definitely be up there for me along with Bumrah, because the kind of skills he possesses and the way he executes those skills under pressure, was incredible -- especially in his second-last over where he conceded a six against Glenn Phillips, then bowled a no-ball in the second and the way he came back from there (dismissing Philipps on the next ball),” Robin Uthappa said on ESPNCricinfo.
Agreeing with Uthappa, Daniel Vettori remarked that having two death-overs specialists "sets a whole new dynamic" for India because it allows the other bowlers to be more attacking upfront.
He added that if Harshal and Bumrah can pair up in the death overs then India could be a formidable T20I side.
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"If Harshal Patel has that skill set, and we obviously know that Bumrah does, it sets a whole new dynamic to how you prepare your T20 setup. Your first six can be more and more attacking, you can see the likes of Avesh Khan coming as he can be a specialist at the top because you know you got those overs blocked away at the back (death).
“There are not many bowlers who can do it (bowl at the death). If India have two, it sets them up as a formidable team,” he said.
With a win against New Zealand in the second T20I, India has sealed the series 2-0 with one match to be played on 21st November at Kolkata.
(ESPNCricinfo Inputs)
