Life has come full circle for Harshal Patel, the Gujarat-born cricketer, who made his mark in the state’s cricketing circles during the 2008-09 Under-19 Vinoo Mankad Trophy, where he claimed 23 wickets
in seven matches. His performances earned him a List A debut for Gujarat against Maharashtra in the 2008-09 Vijay Hazare Trophy. However, it is said that limited opportunities in Gujarat’s competitive setup prompted Patel to move to Haryana in 2010, following his participation in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup in New Zealand. That decision proved pivotal, as Patel made an immediate impact in the 2011-12 Ranji Trophy, taking consecutive eight-wicket hauls against Karnataka and Rajasthan in the quarter-final and semi-final, finishing the season with 28 wickets.
In a significant career move, it is understood that Indian seamer Harshal Patel will return to his home state of Gujarat to represent them in the 2025-26 Indian domestic cricket season after 14 years with Haryana, as reported by ESPNcricinfo. The 34-year-old fast bowler, known for his slower balls and dipping yorkers, has reportedly completed all formalities and will join Gujarat’s pre-season preparations, which begin with a tri-series later this month featuring Baroda and Saurashtra.
The move, reportedly motivated by Patel’s desire to spend more time with his young family in Ahmedabad, follows the recent departure of off-spinner Jayant Yadav from Haryana to Puducherry, marking another high-profile shift in India’s domestic cricket landscape.
Harshal Patel created record of most wickets in Ranji Trophy campaign for Haryana (52) in nine games in 2019-20 season
Harshal Patel’s standout domestic performances include a record-breaking 52 wickets in nine matches during the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy, surpassing Rajinder Goel’s 36-year-old record for the most wickets in a season for Haryana. In 2023, Patel led Haryana to their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy title, claiming a joint-highest 19 wickets, including three in the final. His T20 prowess was evident in the 2024 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he took five wickets for just 12 runs against Arunachal Pradesh. Patel’s domestic success has translated into a stellar Indian Premier League (IPL) career, where he has become one of the competition’s most effective death bowlers.
After debuting for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in 2012, Patel rose to prominence in 2021, winning the Purple Cap with a record-equalling 32 wickets, including a five-wicket haul against Mumbai Indians. He repeated the feat in 2024 with Punjab Kings, taking 24 wickets to become only the third bowler in IPL history to win the Purple Cap twice.
In the IPL 2025 auction, Sunrisers Hyderabad secured his services for INR 8 crore, highlighting his continued demand. Despite a hospitalization that caused him to miss a match against Gujarat Titans in April 2025, Patel took 16 wickets in 12 IPL matches this year. His last T20I appearance for India was in January 2023.
