Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel [Image-Twitter]

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.

Harshal Patel
Harshal Patel [Image-Twitter]
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.

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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:

https://twitter.com/Shebas_10dulkar/status/1380548302173659136?s=19

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

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