IPL 2021: Twitter Erupts As Harshal Patel Claims His Maiden Five-Wicket Haul

Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer Harshal Patel scripted history during the opening game of the 2021 Indian Premier League [IPL] as he became the first bowler to claim a five-wicket-haul against defending champions Mumbai Indians.

Patel did not have a good start to his IPL 2021 campaign as he was taken to the cleaners in his first over by Chris Lynn, who smoked a six and a four to take 15 runs off his first six balls.

But, Harshal Patel came back brilliantly in his second spell to break the back of Mumbai Indians’ middle-order.

Patel was introduced in the attack at a time when Mumbai Indians were going great guns and were looking prime to get a big total.

But the right-arm pacer made brilliant use of his variations and ensured that he ran through their middle-order. Patel claimed a dangerous-looking Hardik Pandya in his 2nd over when the all-rounder missed the full-toss and was trapped plumb in front.

The right-hander pinned Ishan Kishan LBW in his next over but it was his last over that pegged MI back substantially. He got rid of Krunal Pandya and Kieron Pollard on successive deliveries with his clever change of pace before he knocked over Marco Jansen with an inswinging yorker to claim his maiden five-wicket haul.

Patel gave just one run in his last over and finished with the third-best figures [4/27] by an uncapped Indian and also the best figures by a bowler against Mumbai Indians.

Also Read: Watch: Virat Kohli Drops A Sitter Off Krunal Pandya’s Bat And Hurts Himself

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Harshal Patel’s five-wicket haul:

#<!---->M<!---->I<!---->v<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Harshal Patel's bowling figures are the best vs MI by any team.
(Previous best- 4/6 by Rohit Sharma at Centurion in 2009)

— Bhagyesh Joshi ??? (@Cric_bhagya82) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Wow. Harshal Wow. Five wickets. Three wickets and only a single run in the 20th over. Take a bow ?‍♂️ #<!---->M<!---->I<!---->v<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Harshal Patel first bowler to claim a five-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians in #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L. The previous best was 4/6 (2 overs) by Rohit Sharma then playing for Deccan Chargers at Centurion in 2009.#<!---->M<!---->I<!---->v<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B#<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B<!---->v<!---->M<!---->I#<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Harshal Patel is the 3rd #<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B bowler to take 5 wickets in an innings and the first one to do so against #<!---->M<!---->I. Also, just the 2nd bowler to take 5 in Chennai in #<!---->V<!---->I<!---->V<!---->O<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1 #<!---->M<!---->I<!---->v<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B

— Moulin (@Moulinparikh) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Best figures by uncapped Indian players (IPL)

5/14 Ankit Rajpoot KXIP v SRH 2018
5/20 Varun Chakravarthy KKR v DC 2020
5/27 HARSHAL PATEL RCB v MI 2021 *#<!---->M<!---->I<!---->v<!---->s<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

HARSHAL PATEL — The first bowler EVER to take a FIFER against the Mumbai Indians ??

☝️Hardik Pandya
☝️Ishan Kishan
☝️Kieron Pollard
☝️Krunal Pandya
☝️Marco Jansen #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1 #<!---->M<!---->I<!---->v<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B p<!---->i<!---->c<!---->.<!---->t<!---->w<!---->i<!---->t<!---->t<!---->e<!---->r<!---->.<!---->c<!---->o<!---->m<!---->/<!---->d<!---->p<!---->o<!---->R<!---->2<!---->R<!---->c<!---->m<!---->v<!---->s

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Harshal Patel now with more wickets this game than he has taken in either of his last two seasons.

— Jarrod Kimber (@ajarrodkimber) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Staggering comeback by #<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B. For now their weakness, death bowling, has been addressed. Against the best finishing team in the #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Harshal Patel ~ 1st bowler to Pick Fifer against Mumbai Indians#<!---->M<!---->I<!---->v<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B

— ?????? (@Shebas_10dulkar) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

This is why it is the Indian Premier league. 11 India internationals and many foreigners but the star of the night is Harshal Patel! That’s the beauty of this competition. @<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B<!---->T<!---->w<!---->e<!---->e<!---->t<!---->s

— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

https://twitter.com/SurleenKaur27/status/1380548794845167623?s=19

4 wickets in the final over and just 1 run. Absolutely amazing. #<!---->C<!---->r<!---->i<!---->c<!---->k<!---->e<!---->t #<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1 #<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B<!---->v<!---->s<!---->M<!---->I

— Jai Elhance (@JaiElhance) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

5-fer for Harshal Patel on his RCB return. Could have had 2 more. First ever five-fer against Mumbai Indians in IPL.

He has been performing exceedingly well in domestic circuit. Wasn't utilised well last time by DC. Top prospect.#<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1 #<!---->M<!---->I<!---->v<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1

Greatest last over ever?#<!---->I<!---->P<!---->L<!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1 #<!---->R<!---->C<!---->B<!---->v<!---->s<!---->M<!---->I

— AD (@cricadharsh) A<!---->p<!---->r<!---->i<!---->l<!----> <!---->9<!---->,<!----> <!---->2<!---->0<!---->2<!---->1