IPL 2024 Auction: Harshal Patel Expected RCB To Release Him; Says He’ll Help PBKS Win Title

Indian pacer Harshal Patel admitted that he was expecting Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to release him ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction. He said that he didn’t justify his tag last season and he wasn’t surprised after he wasn’t retained.

Harshal Patel was one of the hot picks of the IPL 2024 auction. The Indian pacer bagged a whopping amount of INR 11.75 crores and now will be playing for Punjab Kings in the next edition. It was expected that he would get a huge amount because he has been quite consistent in the format.

Harshal Patel didn’t have a great outing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) as he was taken for runs in almost every game and didn’t make the kind of impact that the team would’ve wanted from him. His poor performances made RCB release him ahead of the next league.

Harshal Patel took 14 wickets in the 13 games that he played and had an economy rate of over 9. The pacer was at his exceptional best during 2021 when he picked 32 wickets and bagged the purple cap for his heroics followed by the Indian cap as well.

Harshal Patel said that he expected that with the kind of impact he made for RCB in the last few years, he had thought that they would retain him. He added that even though he didn’t have great last season but he didn’t lose his skills. Speaking to Jio Cinema, he explained:

“Honestly, the management would have felt, and even I did, that my last season was average. They may have felt that I didn’t justify that price tag. So, I was expecting that they would release me. At the same time, in previous years before last, I had done really well for RCB, so I thought that would also probably retain me. But you know, the franchises and players’ thoughts may not match.

“Every team needs an Indian fast bowler, especially those who can bowl in the death. Even though I didn’t have a great season last year, it didn’t mean I lost skills or lost confidence. I feel that if I am executing well, I can bowl in any situation.” 

IPL 2024 Auction: We’ll play good cricket and overcome the title drought – Harshal Patel on joining Royal Challenge Bangalore

Harshal Patel further talked about joining Punjab Kings (PBKS) and highlighted that he had played with some of the players in the team earlier. He spoke about his relationship with Kagiso Rabada and Shikhar Dhawan, saying that they will end the title drought this time around. He explained:

“It feels really nice. A lot of these guys especially the fast bowlers, I really rate them very highly. With Kagiso Rabada, I have played for 2-3 years in Delhi and enjoy a great relationship with him. 

“Obviously, with Shikhar bhai, I enjoy a great relationship. So, hopefully, we’ll play good cricket and overcome the title drought.”

Punjab Kings over the years have lacked quality death-blowing. With Harshal Patel joining the team now, it’s fair to say that this department will be sorted. He also is handy with the bat down the order and is likely to play a vital role for the team.

Overall, Harshal Patel has played 91 games in the IPL and has picked 111 wickets. He also has 2 four-wicket hauls and one five-wicket haul to his name.