NEW DELHI: The pacemaker Harshal Patel from Royal Challengers Bangalore became the first bowler to score a hat trick in the IPL 2021 on Sunday. Patel’s successes in 4/17 helped the RCB inflict a massive 54-run defeat on defending champions Mumbai Indians in Dubai on Sunday.
The right pacemaker has become one of the most important bowling players at the RCB after winning 23 wickets in just 10 games, in which he was also at the top of the bowling list this season. In total, he has 69 wickets in 58 IPL matches under his belt.
An avid Harshal said it will be some time before success sets in as he scored a hat trick for the first time in his career.
“The first time I did a hat trick in my life I didn’t even have a school game. In IPL I did a hat trick six times and this is the first time I’ve done it. It’s going to be some time take it to move in, “he said.

Harshal Patel (Image credit: BCCI / IPL)
For the second year in a row, Harshal exposed the potholes of the Mumbai Indians. His best numbers of 5/27 were also recorded against the 5-time champion in the first phase of the 2021 IPL. The tournament was suspended halfway due to rising Covid-19 cases in India.

The 30-year-old Harshal, who with 226 wickets in 64 first-class games was a constant performer in the home circle, is still waiting to be accepted into the national team’s system. He was also not part of the Indian second-tier team that toured Sri Lanka earlier this year.

He was also not included in India’s 15-man squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
There is immense competition for fast bowling slots for India’s limited overs teams and Harshal will have to be patient.
But Harshal does not deter Harshal from joining the Indian team yet. The 30-year-old claimed his ultimate goal was to play cricket.

“At no point do I regret it, the decisions I’ve made in my life were made to the best of my ability at the time. And when it comes to the selection it’s completely out of my hands,” he said.
“There is only one goal for me, no matter which team I play, be it a club or an IPL team, or when I play for the country or when I play for Haryana, I try to make a positive impact on that from every situation Take game with ball or bat.

“That’s my goal and it will be my goal until I play cricket,” he said.
If Harshal carries on as he was, he may have a good chance of being rewarded with a national calling at some point.