IPL 2021: Uncapped Gems – Part 1: Harshal Patel tops the leading wicket takers’ chart

I am starting a series on the uncapped Indian domestic players, who rubbed shoulders with the top names in the cricketing arena and got their performance noticed during the first leg of the 14th edition of the IPL --- before the league got suspended due to COVID

The first in the series of the ‘Uncapped Gems’ is right arm medium bowler Harshal Patel.

First-class cricketer Patel, who is yet to wear the Indian jersey, has surprised everyone with his superb bowling figures.

Representing Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), Patel with 17 wickets is the leading wicket taker in the 14th edition of the league. With an average of 15.11 runs per wicket, he scalped 17 wickets in seven matches, and his best bowling figures in a match is 5 wickets for 27 runs.

IPL is known for the action and big money involved. But when it comes to performance, it’s not necessary that every time money matters. Patel got a salary contract from the Bangalore franchise at the base price of Rs 20 lakh only. South African pacer Chirstopher Morris is the highest paid bowler of the 2021 IPL. Rajasthan Royals got him for a salary contract of Rs 16.25 crore. With 14 wickets in seven matches, Morris is the third in the list of the most wicket takers.

Playing in his tenth edition of the league, Patel started with RCB for a salary contract of Rs 8 lakh each in 2012 and 2013. From 2014 to 2017, he got an annual contract of Rs 40 lakh for each season. In 2018 to 2020, he was bought by the Delhi Daredevils with a reduced salary contract for Rs 20 lakh per season. This year, Patel was again in the ranks of RCB. His total IPL wickets tally is 63 with an average of 25.49 runs per wicket.     

Born in Gujarat, 30-year-old Patel played first-class cricket for his home state Gujarat and Haryana. He represented India in the age group tournaments (U-19 and U-23) and also played for North Zone and India A.