Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma Have Been Very Open, Very Generous In The Freedom They Have Allowed Me To Have - Harshal Patel

Indian bowler Harshal Patel was grateful for having played under the two Indian captains, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. He played for the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) under Kohli last season where he ended up taking 32 wickets.

Following his stunning season, Harshal deservedly got his chance to play for the Indian team at the age of 30 and has made a huge impact. He has become the designated death bowler for both RCB and India. With the T20 World Cup coming up this year, Harshal will be keen to carry his form.

“I have been lucky in the sense that be in Rohit or Virat, they have been very open, very generous in the freedom that they have allowed me to express myself and my skill. At no point have they told me that this is what you have to do and they have always given me that option.”

“Told me that ‘you know your game and what to do in each and every situation. You’re not going to be successful all the time but we are going to back you nevertheless.’ So that is the confidence I’m sure Faf too is going to show in me and that makes my job a little easier to deal with different captains,” Harshal told Hindustan Times during the RCB Unbox event.

Harshal Patel reveals advice he received from Kohli after being hit for 37 in an over

In a game against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), Harshal was hit for 37 runs by Indian all-rounder, Ravindra Jadeja. It was the momentum-changing over and the eventual champions ended up rolling over their Southern counterparts. Following the match, Harshal spoke to Kohli who gave him valuable advice.

“After I got hit for 37 in that CSK game, Virat came up to me and said ‘You brought us back into the game by picking up three wickets in the last three overs. You got hit for 37… it happens. You put yourself in difficult situations, you can fail. But if you don’t put yourself there, you are never going to be a valuable player‘.”

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