Harshal Patel made his international debut for India in the second game of the ongoing T20I series against Blackcaps yesterday and created a unique record in his very first appearance in national colors.
Harshal Patel was given the opportunity to play for India based on what he had showcased in the IPL which was his ability to bowl variations with subtlety and that’s what he showcased again in Ranchi as he bowled a match winning spell for India in the death, bowling two tight overs and restricting New Zealand to an under-par score.
While there were other performers in the game who also played key parts in India’s victory, Harshal was still declared the player of the match for the impact that he created with the ball at a time when the game was evenly balanced and New Zealand could have run away with it.
This was the third occasion in India’s history that a player made his international debut after the age of 30 and went on to win a player of the match award. Two players who did this before Harshal were the former Indian, left arm spinner Dilip Doshi and Harshal’s current Indian teammate Suryakumar Yadav.
Suryakumar, when he was presented the India cap earlier this year, had also crossed the age of 30, but he grabbed his opportunity and won the man of the match award in his very first game, pretty much like Harshal.
Indians who made their in international debut after crossing the age of 30 and won Player of the Match at least once:-
AdvertisementDilip Doshi v SL, 1982
Suryakumar Yadav v ENG & NZ, 2021
Harshal Patel v NZ, 2021#INDvNZ— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) November 19, 2021
Harshal Patel was included in the Indian playing XI because of an injury to Mohammed Siraj
Harshal Patel might not have played his first international game for India yesterday if Mohammed Siraj, one of India’s leading fast bowlers at the moment, hadn’t got injured in the first match in Jaipur. But, when the opportunity came calling because of an injury, Harshal made sure he delivered his skills with efficiency as he went at an economy rate of round about 7 and gave India two crucial wickets.
Harshal is now likely to feature in the third game of the T20I series as well which will take place on Sunday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
