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"It Was Getting Difficult,": Harshal Patel Returns To Gujarat After 14 Years With Haryana

Rajgeeta Yadav

Harshal Patel [Source: AFP]Harshal Patel [Source: AFP]

India pacer Harshal Patel has decided to return to Gujarat for the 2025/26 domestic cricket season, bringing an end to his 14-year association with Haryana. Notably, the move comes right before Ranji Trophy and is being seen as a big shift in domestic cricket, especially since Haryana already lost another senior player, Jayant Yadav, earlier this week.

Why Harshal Patel Left Haryana After 14 Successful Years

Harshal’s journey with Haryana has been nothing short of remarkable. After starting his career in Gujarat in 2008/09 following an impressive Under-19 season, he moved to Haryana in 2011. That switch turned out to be a turning point in his career. 

For more than a decade, he was Haryana’s backbone in all formats of the game. In first-class cricket alone, he picked up 246 wickets in 74 matches at an average of 24, including 12 five-wicket hauls. His performances made him one of the most dependable bowlers in the domestic circuit.

One of his proudest moments came in the 2023/24 season, when Haryana lifted their first-ever Vijay Hazare Trophy. Harshal played a major role in that historic campaign, cementing his legacy as one of Haryana’s finest. 

Reflecting on his journey, Harshal Patel told ESPN, 

“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.”


“It was getting difficult for me to be away from the family for long periods of time. So I wanted to come back and see if I could finish my career here. Glad I got an opportunity to do that," Harshal added.

Despite playing less first-class cricket in recent years, Harshal has been a regular in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Known for his clever variations, he had another good season in 2024, picking up 16 wickets in 13 matches for Sunrisers Hyderabad. His economy rate was on the higher side, but his knack for breakthroughs made him a valuable asset.

Speaking about his future, Harshal said, 

"As far as my own journey is concerned, I've always asked myself how can I be the best player I can be. That has kept me going for all these years, and it still keeps me going. My training consistency is probably better than it has ever been.”

Now, at 34, Harshal is going back to where it all began, his home state Gujarat. He will be available for their pre-season training, which kicks off with a tri-series against Baroda and Saurashtra.