India T20 WC Squad: India STRUCK with Harshal Patel problem, concedes 49 in practice game, CHECK OUT

India T20 WC Squad: India vs Western Australia-XI: India’s T20 World Cup preparations are going anything but smoothly. The multiple injuries including of Jasprit Bumrah have derailed India’s bowling plan already. The latest addition is Harshal Patel’s poor run of form. The pacer who shot to the limelight with a brilliant IPL 2021 season with Royal Challengers Bangalore is struggling since his return from injury. He conceded 49 runs in his four overs against Western Australia XI in the first practice game on Monday. Follow T20 World Cup LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN.

Barring the seam-friendly Trivandram T20 against South Africa, he has been taken to the cleaners in almost every match. Since returning from injury, he has conceded at 10.95 per over in 8 matches in exchange for just 3 wickets. On Monday, he was once again expensive, giving away 49 runs for just a wicket. With Mohammad Shami all set to be included as Jasprit Bumrah replacement, Harshal Patel’s time is running out. He has exactly three games to get his act together or face the axe.

India T20 WC Squad: Amid injury concerns, India STRUCK with Harshal Patel problem, concedes 49 in practice game, Check OUT

India T20 WC Practice: Virat Kohli & KL Rahul SKIP first PRACTICE match vs Western Australia, head straight to NETS instead, Watch Video

India T20 WC Squad: Where is Harshal Patel going wrong?

Harshal Patel shot to fame for his variations and deadly use of the slower ball.
Virat Kohli said his slower deliveries are almost unreadable.
But it is the same weapon that has now become his major weak link.
Harshal Patel has been smashed on his slower deliveries the most.
It wasn’t the case before his injury though. The slower ones were his potent weapons in all conditions.
Harshal also admitted to making changes to his bowling plans to suit conditions.
But as he continues to be expensive and not taking as many wickets, Rohit Sharma will have to make a decision soon.
Arshdeep with his fine run is set to pip him in the race for Playing XI.

Harshal Patel with 40 runs or more in 2022:

0/46 (4) vs WI
1/52 (4) vs SL
1/43 (4) vs SA
1/54 (4) vs IRE
0/49 (4) vs AUS
0/45 (4) vs SA
0/49 (4) vs SA
1/49 (4) vs WA-XI

“I’ve explored a little bit in terms of the lengths I can bowl with the slower ball. Usually, when I bowl the slower balls, it’s mainly fuller or at the good length. But now I’ve started bowling more shorter slower balls which are working out very well for me,” Harshal Patel explained to ESPNCricinfo.

India T20 WC Squad: Amid injury concerns, India STRUCK with Harshal Patel problem, concedes 49 in practice game, Check OUT

Inside #TeamIndia‘s nets session with Batting Coach – Vikram Rathour, Bowling Coach – Paras Mhambrey & Fielding Coach – T Dilip. pic.twitter.com/L8E3yosSbT

— BCCI (@BCCI) October 10, 2022

But time is running out for selectors. They do not have enough backups and the ones who are backups are either injured or haven’t done well in T20 format. Deepak Chahar is certainly one to look out for. But he is currently at the NCA following a recurrence of his back injury. Mohammad Shami is yet to be declared fit for selection while Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj have been unimpressive in T20 format. Shardul Thakur is also another option but he too has had lacklustre shows in T20s.

As for Harshal, he has three more games to find his rhythm. Else, he will have to serve as a passenger on the trip with Arshdeep Singh certain to make the Playing XI. But for Harshal, it’s his first trip down under and he is slowly acclimatising to the conditions.

“It’s obviously quite cold. We’re slowly acclimatising. The atmosphere is amazing with the team and we’re looking forward to building up to the first game. In these two weeks, the idea is to acclimatise to the weather and skill-wise, adapt quickly and by the time our first game comes around we should be in our peak physical and mental condition,” Harshal Patel said after the first two training sessions at WACA.

India T20 WC Squad: Amid injury concerns, India STRUCK with Harshal Patel problem, concedes 49 in practice game, Check OUT

India T20 WC Squad: Rohit Sharma (c), KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Deepak Hooda, Rishabh Pant, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh. Standby Players: Mohammad Shami, Shreyas Iyer, Ravi Bishnoi, Deepak Chahar.

Net Bowlers: Umran Malik, Chetan Sakariya, Kuldeep Sen

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