IPL 2021: Harshal Patel Is The Player Of The Tournament For Me – Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has named Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) fast bowler Harshal Patel as his Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 Player Of The Tournament.

Harshal Patel had a dream run in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021, He was at the tally of 30 wickets heading into the Eliminator encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Harshal was aiming at surpassing Dwayne Bravo’s record of 32 wickets in an IPL season.

However, Harshal Patel was able to pick only 2 wickets in the match. Notably, he was very close to picking the 33rd wicket in his last over but Devdutt Padikkal dropped the catch.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo after RCB’s defeat against KKR in the Eliminator, Gautam Gambhir pointed out that Harshal bowled the toughest overs for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the match and made the biggest contribution. Gambhir said:

“Look at Harshal Patel today; he bowled the fifth over which was probably the toughest after Garton went for 15-20 in the fourth over… He bowled the fifth over, and got the wicket. He bowled in the death and got wickets.

“So he’s done probably the toughest thing that RCB were expecting him to do, and he came out with flying colours. Irrespective of how many runs and wickets players will get, he’s the player of the tournament for me already,” Gambhir said. 

Harshal Patel Deserved To Play In The Final – Gautam Gambhir

Former Indian opener feels that the RCB pacer was very unfortunate to miss out on playing the final of IPL 2021 despite being the standout performer. Gambhir further added that the 30-year-old carried the complete burden of RCB’s death bowling on his back. Gautam Gambhir asserted:

“It’s unfortunate. He deserved to play in the final. He’s been the standout performer for them… The way he has carried on the burden of death bowling for RCB, which has been a concern for so many years… he’s literally handled that pressure single-handedly. Hats off to him, and he’s had a fabulous, fabulous IPL,”

Although Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has failed to make it into Qualifier 2, Still it’s safe to say that Harshal Patel will end the season with the tag of leading wicket-taker and a purple cap on his head with 32 scalps under his belt, As the closest to Harshal in the list is Delhi Capitals (DC) pacer Avesh Khan with 23 wickets in his name.

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