After 14 years with Haryana, Harshal Patel returns to Gujarat
Ahead of the 2025-26 domestic season, Indian fast bowler Harshal Patel has switched his allegiance from Haryana to Gujarat. A native of Gujarat, Harshal had, in fact, begun his domestic career with the state side before moving to Haryana. The SRH fast bowler has now signed with the Gujarat team for the upcoming domestic season. Gujarat’s pre-season preparations kick off with a tri-series later this month, which features teams namely Saurashtra and Baroda, and Harshal Patel will be part of the series.
Before moving to Haryana, Harshal Patel made his List A debut for Gujarat in the 2008-09 season. He had an impressive under-19 season, but after participating in the Under-19 World Cup in 2010, Harshal made the hard decision to move away from Gujarat due to lack of opportunities. He made his first-class debut for Haryana in the 2011-12 season. Consistent performances over the years helped him become a pivotal figure in the team. In his first cricket career so far, he has managed to pick 246 wickets in 74 matches at 24.02. Harshal Patel played a vital role for Haryana in the List-A cricket and was also part of the side that won the 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy. He picked 19 wickets in 10 matches that season at an average of 20.47. In 72 List A matches, he has 105 wickets to his name.
Harshal Patel has never shied away from crediting his success to the Haryana state team.
"Right from 2010-11 since my Under-19 days, almost the entirety of my professional career has been with Haryana, I owe a lot to them," Harshal told ESPNcricinfo. "If that move to Haryana as an 18-year-old hadn't worked out for me I would have probably moved to the USA and not played cricket in India."
Harshal Patel has a young family in Ahmedabad, and he does feel the need to change his priorities now. His decision to come back to Gujarat makes every bit of sense.
"It was getting difficult for me to be away from the family for long periods of time," Harshal said. "So I wanted to come back and see if I could finish my career here. Glad I got an opportunity to do that."
"I first asked Anil Patel [secretary, Gujarat Cricket Association] and he was gracious enough to say, 'this is your home, welcome back.' Having come back, I'm open to play everything and anything that the team wants me to play.
Harshal Patel’s IPL Career
Harshal Patel is now a household name in Indian cricket, thanks to his outstanding bowling performance in the Indian Premier League. Harshal Patel worked hard on his bowling to eventually start finding results after the 2020 IPL edition. His slower balls, especially the ones that dipped onto the batter, became his stock delivery. The 2021 IPL was his breakthrough season. He picked up a record 32 wickets in a single season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Such was his impact with the ball that RCB paid a massive sum of INR 10.75 crores for the next season. He picked 19 wickets in 15 matches in the 2022 edition at an average of 21.58. Despite having a mediocre season with the ball in 2023, Harshal Patel was the only Indian bowler to be paid more than 10 crores in the IPL 2024 auction. He was once again the highest wicket-taker that season, picking 24 wickets at a strike rate of 12.
Despite winning the purple cap, Harshal Patel wasn’t retained by the Punjab Kings for next season. He was roped in by Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2025 Auction for INR 8 crores. Harshal Patel couldn’t live up to the expectations for a new franchise, picking 16 wickets in 13 matches at an average of 26.
