Ajay Jadeja Opines Harshal Patel Is A Top Contender For T20I World Cup 2022

Feb 21, 2022 at 2:42 PM

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Ajay Jadeja Opines Harshal Patel Is A Top Contender For T20I World Cup 2022

Ajay Jadeja, the former India batter has opined that, on current form, Harshal Patel is definitely a top contender to be picked for the upcoming T20I World Cup 2022. Ajay Jadeja went on to claim that Harshal Patel is next only to Jasprit Bumrah when it comes to picking bowlers for the ICC event.

The 31-year-old pacer was Team India’s star performer in the third T20I against West Indies on Sunday, registering figures of 3 for 22.

Harshal Patel BCCI
Harshal Patel BCCI

Ajay Jadeja: Harshal Patel Is Definitely A Tick For 2022 T20I World Cup

Last week Royal Challengers Bangalore got him back by a price of INR 10.75 Crores at the IPL 2022 mega auction. Notable he was the Purple Cap winner in the last season when he claimed 32 wickets in 15 matches with an economy of 8.14. It was the record for any Indian bowler in a single IPL season.

He made his T20I debut against New Zealand last year. Harshal Patel made his IPL debut in 2012 and so far picked 78 wickets in 63 matches with an economy of 8.58.

Discussing the pacer’s performance, Ajay Jadeja said: “The T20 World Cup is a long way away but he is definitely a tick for the World Cup at this stage.”

Cautioning the team management not to overexpose him in the build-up to the mega event, he added: “The more you play Harshal, people will get used to something. They keep watching you and the pattern of your bowling – when do you bowl slower ones and yorkers.

“If you expose him more, he might be less effective. But Australia grounds are huge, where he would be very useful. At this moment, if the Indian team had to be picked, you’ll probably write his name alongside Bumrah.”

Dinesh Karthik file image. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)
Dinesh Karthik file image. (Photo: Surjeet Yadav/IANS)

Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik also echoed Ajay Jadeja’s views and stated that Harshal Patel has been an absolute positive the whole series.

He said in praise of the pacer: “From the time he has come into the Indian team, he has done everything right. Rohit has used him brilliantly as well, bringing him in those crucial overs once the field spreads. Every time he feels like he needs a wicket, he brings him on, which is very clever.”

Before Sunday’s clash, Harshal Patel had figures of 2 for 37 and 0 for 46 in the first two T20Is. In the 3rd T20I, India posted 184 on the board, thanks to a blitzkrieg from Suryakumar Yadav and Venkatesh Iyer who added 86 runs in the last 5 overs.

Harshal Patel finished with 3/22 as the Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer picked up the crucial wickets of Rovman Powell and Romario Shepherd as both the dangerous big-hitters threatened to go big.

Ajay Jadeja: Harshal Patel Playing A Key Role While India Defending A Target

Ajay Jadeja further stated that the Haryana pacer is playing a crucial role in the current Indian T20 squad in Jasprit Bumrah’s absence, particularly when bowling second.

He explained: “West Indies were moving along (in the chase on Sunday) but Harshal Patel slowed them down. Every time his over came, the target seemed to go away a little bit. And then West Indies would try and catch up – four overs for 22 for a guy who bowls mostly at the end.”

Ajay Jadeja
Ajay Jadeja (Photo- Twitter)

Jadeja continued: “I think Harshal Patel’s probably playing the key role at the moment when we are defending. It is almost like what Jasprit Bumrah was doing. But with Bumrah it’s many things. What surprises me is that with Harshal Patel it’s just that slower one and people still have no clue what to do with it.”

Having made his T20I debut last year, the intelligent pacer has claimed nine wickets in five matches at an average of 17.33 and an economy rate of 8.21.

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