NEW DELHI: Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Harshal Patel on Sunday became the first bowler in IPL 2021 to claim a hat-trick. Patel’s 4/17 exploits helped RCB inflict a massive 54-run defeat on defending champions Mumbai Indians in Dubai on Sunday.
The right-arm pacer has emerged as one of RCB’s most important bowlers after taking 23 wickets in just 10 matches that also saw him sit atop the bowling list this season. Overall he has 69 wickets under his belt in 58 IPL matches.
An elated Harshal said the achievement will take some time to sink in as he took a hat-trick for the very first time in his career.
“First-time ever I have taken a hat-trick in my life, I had not done this even in a school game. In IPL, I have been on hat-tricks six times and this is the first time I have gotten it. It will take some time to sink in,” he said.

Harshal Patel (Image credit: BCCI/IPL)
Harshal exposed Mumbai Indians’ batting chinks for the second consecutive time. His best figures of 5/27 were also registered against the 5 time champions in the first phase of IPL 2021. The tournament was suspended midway due to rising Covid-19 cases in India.

The 30-year-old Harshal, who has been a consistent performer in the domestic circuit with 226 wickets in 64 first class matches is still awaiting to be included in the scheme of things as far as the national team is concerned. He was also not part of the ‘second-string’ Indian team which toured Sri Lanka earlier this year.

He was also not included in India’s 15 member squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
There is immense competition as far as the fast bowling slots for India’s limited overs teams are concerned and Harshal will have yo be patient.
But not being able to make it into the Indian team yet does not deter Harshal. The 30 year old asserted that his ultimate goal remains to play cricket.

“I don’t have any regret anytime, the decisions I have taken in life have been taken as per my best ability at that time. And when it comes to selection, that is completely out of my hands,” he said.
“There is only one goal for me, whichever team I play, be it a club or IPL team, or when I will play for the country or when I play for Haryana, I try to put a positive impact in the game from whichever situation with ball or bat.

“That is my goal and it will remain my goal until I play cricket,” he stressed.
If Harshal continues to perform the way he has been, he perhaps stands a good chance to be rewarded with a national call up sometime in the future.