This season proved to be very memorable for right-arm medium pacer Harshal Patel, who played for RCB in IPL 2021. He played an important role in taking RCB to the playoffs on the strength of his brilliant and sharp bowling. Harshal played 15 matches and took 32 wickets at an impressive average of 14.34 and an economy of 8.14.
The 30-year-old Harshal, playing in the IPL for the ninth time, bowled a record-breaking performance, surpassing his previous best. Not only was he successful in winning the Purple Cap by taking the most wickets in the season, but he has also adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
He is the third Indian to be named the Player of the Tournament in the 14-year IPL history. Earlier in the year 2010, Mumbai Indians captain Sachin Tendulkar and in the year 2016 RCB captain Virat Kohli has adjudged the Most Valuable Player of the season. After five years, an Indian player has entered this club. Harshal is the first bowler to join this club.
Harshal Patel made his best ever performance in IPL 2021. He became the first Indian bowler to take more than 30 wickets in a season of IPL and ended the season with Dwayne Bravo's equalizer of 32 wickets. He started IPL 2021 with a bang against Mumbai Indians and took five wickets for 27 runs in this match. After that, he did not look back in the tournament as he took Mumbai on his target once again in the UAE leg and this time took four wickets for 17 runs against them which included a hat-trick.
Harshal Patel has played a total of 63 matches in IPL in which he has taken 78 wickets at an average of 23.17 and an economy of 8.58. Prior to this season, he had 46 wickets in 48 matches and took 17 wickets while playing for RCB in 2015. Playing for RCB after 6 years, he has managed to deliver the best performance of his IPL career.
