He will be one of the trumps cards: Sunil Gavaskar on Harshal Patel

The battle for the few remaining spots in the Indian T20I World Cup squad has intensified after the series against South Africa earlier this month. 

India has a dynamic bowling attack, which consists of the likes of Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, to name a few. Former Indian batting great Sunil Gavaskar believes that Harshal Patel could turn out to be the trump card for India in the upcoming T20I World Cup.

Harshal Patel’s stock has risen after a breakthrough performance in IPL 2021, which saw him claim the Purple Cap. Sunil Gavaskar believes that it is ideal for a skipper to have someone like Harshal Patel in the line-up, given the number of variations he has up his sleeve. The Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer broke into the Indian T20I side last year. 

The 31-year-old has picked up 13 wickets so far and is likely to get a place in the Indian squad for the mega event in Australia. 

“He will be one of the trump cards because you have Bhuvneshwar, Shami and Bumrah as well. Brilliant for a skipper to have someone like him to depend on; he can come in and bowl, maybe even in the powerplay where people are now going with a change of pace. So yes, he certainly should be part of the group,” said Sunil Gavaskar on Star Sports.

Former South African skipper Graeme Smith chipped in with a few words of praise for Harshal Patel as well, highlighting his contribution to the Indian side off-late. 

The Indian pacer finished as the top wicket-taker in the recently concluded T20I series against South Africa, managing to pick up seven wickets in four innings at an average of just under 13.

“He has been excellent. Nobody skills in the death overs with the slower balls…but I feel from game three that he found his right length and picked up wickets, and kept the pressure on the South Africans. He has all the skills as an all-rounder bowler and is a big asset to the team and handles pressure very well and is a clear thinker under pressure,” Smith said.

Harshal Patel is a part of the Indian touring party to Ireland for a two-match T20I series. This will be an opportunity for him to further make a statement in the overseas conditions before the all-important face-off against England in July.