LSG vs RCB: "Who Was He Bowling To?" - Mohammad Kaif Lauds Harshal Patel's Match-winning Spell

Mohammad Kaif has praised Harshal Patel for bowling a game dominating spell in the Royal Challengers Bangalore’s (RCB) IPL 2022 Eliminator win against the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG).

Patel came back with figures of 1/25 in his four overs when practically all the other bowlers were being smashed all over. He bowled two extraordinary overs at the death when the match was intriguingly tight.

LSG Batters Could Not Understand How To Deal With Harshal Patel’s Variations: Mohammad Kaif

During a conversation on Star Sports, Mohammad Kaif was inquired as to whether Patel has settled RCB’s enduring death bowling issues. He responded:

“He has bowled 24 balls and only one six was hit. He had an injury on his fingers and is bowling with the same hand. That is fine but who was he bowling to? KL Rahul was there in front of him, a set player who could have won the match.”

The former India cricketer featured how Patel confounded the LSG players with his slower short pitch balls. Kaif explained:

“He (Rahul) was trying to play pull shots and was getting beaten, they were becoming dot balls. The slower bouncers he used, he hit the ball on the deck, got the height he wanted and the batters were not able to read which ball was coming. Stoinis even left the ball quite a few times and they were becoming dot balls.”

Patel bowled two wides to begin the eighteenth over of the LSG innings, with the subsequent one likewise going for four byes. However, he surrendered only two additional runs in the over, while excusing Marcus Stoinis, getting him caught at the rope.

Mohammad Kaif valued Patel for returning splendidly subsequent to persevering through a lean run in the middle phase of the IPL 2022. He elaborated:

“The revolution he gets on the slower ball, the ball pitches and stops and gets the bounce. Stoinis was caught at deep point, which was also a big wicket. He is not giving the pace. Harshal Patel got the Purple Cap last year, he was fully worthy of that. This year his form had dipped a little in the middle but four overs, 25 runs and a wicket.”

Harshal Patel Was Missing Piece For RCB: Irfan Pathan

Irfan Pathan added that Patel has made his mark in the last two seasons of the IPL and has addressed RCB’s need for a viable slog over bowler. The former Indian all-rounder said:

“Harshal Patel was playing regularly before 2021 as well but he had taken 46 wickets. He has taken 50 wickets in the last two seasons, Harshal has had two amazing seasons and because of that, RCB’s performances have improved because they were missing a bowler who could pick wickets at the death and win them the match.”

Harshal Patel has gotten 97 wickets in his IPL career so far. 51 of these scalps have come in the last two seasons of the IPL.

Also Read: LSG vs RCB: ‘I Want To Be In Those Situations’ – Harshal Patel On Bowling At The Death