RCB Bold Diaries: Harshal Patel Interview - What Virat texted him

From being picked at the base price at previous auctions, to a Purple cap, to now being an India regular and picked up by RCB at the IPL mega auction 2022 for a whopping 10.75 crores, Harshal Patel’s stock has risen extraordinarily over the past year. Come the IPL 2022 season, he will be expected to be amongst the potential leaders in the RCB bowling attack. 

While all the action was happening in the auction room, the protagonist of the act was in the bio bubble for Team India who were playing against the West Indies at the time. And with him, there was a certain Virat Kohli. Right after finally the paddle went up at 10.75 crores for the hammer to fall down on Harshal’s name, Harshal reveals a “validating” chat he had with Virat Kohli. “Virat messaged me saying ‘You deserve every bit of what you got, and very happy for you.' Coming from him, that validation, whatever money I’ve got, that is secondary. But the value I’ve created for myself is something I’m very happy and very grateful for.”

Lots of money and responsibility can often be a double-edged sword, with pressure often accompanying it. Does that play on his mind? “Lot of responsibilities in the sense that I have set a certain standard I need to follow, and exceed at times if I can. I don't look at it as pressure, I look at it as an opportunity, and I’m very excited about it,” said a rather upbeat Harshal Patel talking to Danish Sait at the RCB Unbox event.

Asked how the journey over the past year would reflect in the upcoming season, Harshal said “Probably one thing I can say is, I’m going to be more confident. That’s the only change I feel. Last year was a record-breaking season for me and whatever I have done for India after that, it’s all going to add up. It has given me a lot of confidence in my ability and my skill, and I’m going to take all that confidence into this IPL.”

Harshal Patel picked up a record 32 wickets in IPL 2021 which saw him take home the Purple Cap, and the name that has stuck with him ever since, “Purple Patel”. Harshal will once again be a key figure in the RCB pace bowling attack for IPL 2022 comprising Mohammed Siraj and Josh Hazlewood.