Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani got Harshal at the auction held in Mumbai on Tuesday, and ‘bought’ him for her team.
The emerging pacer from Gujarat, Harshal Patel, will play for Mumbai Indians in the forthcoming Indian Premier League 3. Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani got Harshal at the auction held in Mumbai on Tuesday, and ‘bought’ him for her team.
Harshal, who will be richer by Rs8 lakh, is the first Gujarat Cricket Association player to join the Mumbai Indians. Baroda captain Pinal Shah and Saurashtra captain Jaydev Shah are also part of the Ambani-owned team. Currently, Harshal is playing for India in the ongoing Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.
The 18-year-old couldn’t believe his ears when he learnt that he had been purchased by the team which will be led by Sachin Tendulkar. He wouldn’t believe the news until his first coach, Tarak Trivedi, assured him that it was true. “He was so overwhelmed that he was speechless,” said Trivedi.
Trivedi said Harshal aims to overcome all his technical faults by playing with Tendulkar. “Playing alongside Tendulkar is a dream of all cricketers,” said Trivedi. “Harshal will soon be doing that. He is looking forward to learning the tricks of the trade from the Master, which is good for his career.”
It won’t be easy for Harshal to cruise into the playing eleven as there are heavyweights like Zaheer Khan, Dilhara Fernando, Dwayne Bravo and Dhaval Kulkarni ahead of him. However, it will definitely help him grow as a cricketer.
“Harshal will become a mature cricketer,” said Saurashtra captain Jaydev Shah. “Sachin’s guidance will make him a thinking cricketer, and he will benefit from this in future matches.”
Harshal made a name for himself in junior cricket with his deadly out-swingers. It all started when the right-arm seamer, representing Gujarat in under-19 Vinoo Mankad trophy, picked up 23 wickets at less than 12 runs a piece. Subsequently, he was named for Gujarat’s one-day squad where he picked up four wickets in as many outings.
Harshal’s story seems straight out of films. The lanky pacer, who was born in Sanand, stayed back when his parents decided to move to the US.
“Everyone was surprised by Harshal’s decision when he decided to stay in India instead of going to the US,” said Trivedi, the youngster’s coach. “I was aware of Harshal’s capabilities so I asked his father to wait for a couple of years.”
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