IPL 10: It was tough to get into the playing XI, admits Harshal Patel

The season was not one remember for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). They finished last in the points table. But after a string of humiliating losses, they did manage to win their last match, owing to Harshal Patel’s efforts. On Sunday evening, Delhi Daredevils and Royal Challengers Bangalore took the field at the Indian Capital. When a team of RCB’s caliber is playing, fans are expected to come in huge numbers.

But a team comprising of Chris Gayle, AB de Villiers and Indian national team captain Virat Kohli managed to lose 10 games out of their 14 in this season. The reason maybe lack of consistency from ‘big guns’ like Gayle and AB, it maybe KL Rahul’s unavailability, it may be poor strategies at the auction table, to buy Tymal Mills for Rs.12 crores. But whoever maybe missing from their lineup or maybe out of form, they do not look like a team to finish last on paper.

But they ended their miserable campaign with a win against the Delhi Daredevils. Pacer Harshal Patel was given a chance for the first time this year. In the insignificant match against Delhi, he was rightfully adjudged Man of the Match for his efforts with the ball. Delhi were chasing a modest total of 161. But Harshal Patel turned the modest total into a mountain for the double D’s, as Delhi eventually fell short of the target by 10 runs. Though a bit expensive, conceding 43 runs in 4 overs, he picked up three crucial wickets of Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant and Marlon Samuels. Pant’s wicket was probably the most important one, as he was looking dangerous with 45 of 34.

Post-match presentation ceremony

“I mean it has not been easy for me, especially with the team losing and me not getting an opportunity to show the kind of form I was in. Finally happy to do the dent.” said a jubilant Patel at the post-match presentation ceremony. “In IPL you have a lot of time to yourself and you have to utilize it. I am always training and making sure that I am ready whenever I get a chance,” he further added.

Patel was considered for the Man of the Match award as he broke the crucial 46-run partnership between Pant and Iyer. With that, he brought a smile to the faces of the thousands of supporters who adorned M Chinnaswamy stadium day in day out with their red jerseys. But this match was a mere consolation, as RCB will finish with just 3 wins in 14 matches. Fans of RCB will try to forget that the tenth edition of IPL was played ever.