India made a hash of affairs against Australia despite piling up significant numbers with the bat. Their bowlers were peppered to the ropes way too frequently and the best of the lot didn’t really have the supremacy that they were supposed to savour on their turf. If Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the madness that cost India dearly, Harshal Patel was caught as his partner in crime.
After the poor display at Mohali, the fans started writing him off even before he could be showcase his skillset. As far as the fans concern goes, there are multiple reasons why RCB’s medium-fast ace should not be given an opportunity. But here are a few facts that needs to be understood in the first place. Cricket isn’t a game of just one-offs. If one game would have underlined that how bad a player plays, then Muttiah Muralitharan’s 0 for 99 against Australia in 2006, Tim Southee’s 0/105 against India in 2009, Lasith Malinga’s 1 for 96 against India in 2012 should have been the last game that they should have played in their career.
Much to the surprise of the fans, cricket is a process and team building is done after a thousand permutation and combinations. If one match would have paved the way, Ajantha Mendis would have been a better bowler than Shane Warne and yet Virender Sehwag softened him up and eventually put an end to his career. One needs to understand that cricket is all about crucibles forged. So with a heavy heart for the fans who believe that Harshal should be dropped, here are 5 reasons why, India should continue with him.
#1 Versatility
Harshal hasn’t been earmarked for a particular role. He is capable of bowling in all three sections of the contest that entails powerplay, middle overs and death. Though deemed a lot more capable during the death overs, this versatility from Harshal is a significant factor in India’s new approach towards the shortest format of the game. India has adopted chaos as their new T20 stance and for this to come to life, you will need someone who is equally comfortable at all ends.
#2 Discipline
When it comes to T20 bowling, discipline is paramount. Gone are the days when the fast bowlers would pepper the batters with chin-rattling bumpers or rib-shattering shorties. It is more about variety and mixing up of line and lengths that usually keep the batters guessing. Life becomes a lot more challenging for the batters while being kept guessing about the next balls that eventually proves to be their unravelling. This is exactly where Harshal excels. He is a modern cricketer with a variegated arsenal and a very stringent discipline. He may be off in a few games but if IPL has taught a trait or two about him, he always bounces back.
#3 Wicket-taker
Even if he is going for a few runs, his wicket-taking ability makes him an asset for the Indian cricket team. Under the new circumstances where even a number 7 or 8 batter can hit you for boundaries, where utility cricketers bag the limelight instead of the traditional experts, Harshal’s wicket-taking ability is an absolute bonus.
#4 Calm of head
Harshal is not someone, whom you can irk easily. This is exactly what makes him so dangerous. If you are smacking one delivery of his to the ropes, he would come back with the exact same ball with an inch of modification. While you will be tempted to pull of the same stunt, that additional inch of deviation from its ordinary line can cost you your life in the 22 yards.
#5 A proven customer
Harshal has been consigned to the ropes repeatedly in IPL. And yet, he has turned every next match and pounded some excellent overs to leave his counterparts tormented. Now this is exactly where the team management will have to show the faith in Harshal. The kind of bowler that he is, he won’t be at the pink of your numbers day in and day out. However, if the Indian management can show the faith in Harshal, things would change.
