Harshal Patel starred with the ball for India in the last T20 international against South Africa. He returned with outstanding figures of 4 for 25 in 3.1 overs. Harshal Patel deceived the batters with his slower balls on multiple occasions and got rewarded as well.
Ahead of the fourth T20I against South Africa at Rajkot, Patel said, “People have been trying to anticipate what I am bowling for the last two years (in IPL). With every bowler the longer they play, the opposition will realise what the bowler’s strengths and patterns are.”
“As a bowler, my job is to stay one step ahead of them. I cannot bowl fast like Umran Malik, it’s plain and simple. So I have to develop skills to render myself effective. My focus is always to develop skills around my bowling, with whatever limitations and advantages I have,” he added.
Harshal Patel excepted the fact that on slower pitches and bigger grounds, he tends to find more success but on smaller grounds like in Delhi, things get harder for the Indian pace bowler.
“In the last match, the wicket was slower than usual which allowed us to bowl hard lengths. It was difficult to clear boundaries on both sides,” Harshal remarked.
“It gives you a fighting chance. If you consistently play on pitches such as Delhi, it can hamper your confidence a little bit. We also have world-class spinners who can bowl in any conditions but on a slightly slower pitch and bigger ground, it brings them into the game more,” he added.
The Indian pacer expressed confidence in winning the next two T20 internationals and not giving South Africa any chance of winning the game.
“I said at the last game as well that this was sort of like a final for us. We didn’t perform well or anything close to what we are capable of. (This is) a second chance but we need to seal the series as soon as possible and not give them an opportunity or any sniff,” said Nortje.
The fourth T20 international is slated to be played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on Friday.
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