IPL 2024: 'I want to be as good as Bumrah' - Harshal Patel on mastering death bowling art

Punjab Kings seamer Harshal Patel was all over the news recently for dismissing MS Dhoni on a first-ball duck with his signature slower one in Dharamsala in IPL 2024. With 17 wickets from 11 matches this season, Patel is the second-highest wicket-taker, behind Mumbai Indians ace seamer Jasprit Bumrah (18). Ahead of a crucial tie against the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on Thursday (May 9), Harshal shared his thoughts on the ongoing IPL performance and how he is preparing to excel at his job.

In an exclusive chat with ESPNcricinfo, Harshal spoke in detail on several aspects, including idolising Bumrah as a death bowler and mastering the art of bowling Yorkers. However, contrary to hiswicket’scolumn,Harshal’seconomy is worrying for a bowler of his caliber, going over nine runs per over.

Speaking on trying to maintain a balance between keeping it tight runs-wise and picking wickets at the same time, Harshal said, “Ihavesort offigured out what I need to do to be able to shut batters down when I need to, andthere'sa lot of skill aspects involved in that as well.I'vebeen working on those skills consistently fromevenbefore the season.”

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Harshal said hehasn’tlived up to the expectations but wishes to followBumrah’spath of delivering this season – being economical and picking wickets.

“I'venot been ableto consistently do it in the game, butI'mon the right path, and when it all comes together, I want to be as good as someone like Jasprit [Bumrah], because we keep talking about bowlers going at nine or ten an over and throughout this IPL, there has been one fast bowler [Bumrah] who goes for less than six most of the time. I challenge myself to be as good as him,”he continued.

‘Right execution iseverything’

Picked as a specialist death-over bowler at the last edition of the T20 World Cup in Australia, Harshal admittedit’sall about executing his deliveries right, knowing in that case, he can bowl six deliveries on point without getting hit.

“It again comes down to execution, right?BecauseI'veproven thisover and over: that when I execute [my deliveries successfully], most of the batterscan'thit it.WhenI'mexecuting,I know I can bowl six in a row, and they stillwon'tbe able to hit.

“They might get away with one, but they still might not be able to hit more than one. So, for me, that delivery is all about execution. And when the conditions allow me to bowl six slower balls, I will bowl sixslower balls. I have no shame in being called a spinner who runs fast and bowls off-spin, which people have said multiple times - which is absolutely fine,”he added.

Meanwhile,Patel’sPBKS is placed eighth on the points table with four wins thus far.

(With inputs from agencies)