In the past few months, India has had a long list of injured players, which has caused a number of them to miss the 20-20 World Cup. However, the Indian team’s depth has made it possible for the management to identify suitable stand-ins. Few of these injured players, though, appear to have been eclipsed by their replacements.
During the opening match of the India-New Zealand T20I series, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra posed a direct query to the decision-makers regarding one of these players. After the disappointing 20-20 World Cup 2021, Harshal Patel found his way into the Indian lineup.
Harshal was given a fairly long run in the Indian T20I side as a specialist bowler following an impressive Indian T20 League run. He participated in 21 games leading up to the 20-20 World Cup 2022, taking 22 wickets.
He later missed the Asia Cup due to an injury. Patel came back for the 20-20 World Cup, but he was one of just two players who didn’t play in any matches. After the World Cup, he played in just one game each in Sri Lanka and New Zealand series, and he is currently not selected for the series against New Zealand.
“What’s the update on Harshal Patel? Is he still nursing an injury? He was our T20 specialist leading into the World Cup…didn’t get to play in Aus. Haven’t seen him since. #IndvNZ,” tweeted Aakash.
Here is Aakash Chopra’s tweet
What’s the update on Harshal Patel? Is he still nursing an injury? He was our T20 specialist leading into the World Cup…didn’t get to play in Aus. Haven’t seen him since. #IndvNZ
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) January 27, 2023
Here is how Twitter reacted
Please don't rate him so highly , never did anything remembering for Indian cricket. He only prospered in ipl because of those slow pitches and those spin deliveries. Calls himself a medium fast bowler. But all he bowls is off spin deliveries. Lord thakur is far better than him
— G0Pí (@Venu8551) January 27, 2023
T20 specialist??
Are you joking ? a player with 9-10+ economy rate in most of the matches consistently
That too wicket less in last 2 games is your t20 specialist not everyone's…..
Check your comment box you will get to know ?? @C4CRICVENKATESH @sandeepskb128— Ciripireddy ganesh (@Ciripireddygan2) January 27, 2023
T20 specialist with one dimension bowling and 9+ economy rate Akash.?? It was just about time opponents took to figure out his slow ball.
— LOLendra Singh (@LOLendraSingh) January 27, 2023
After the injury he never bowled a way he was bowling…infact all matches.he played hardly bowl good in one of them..infact thanks to managmebt that he was backed or they didnt have option as avesh failed as well.
— Abhimanyu Singh Chauhan (@AbhiChouhan) January 27, 2023
We have problem of TOO MANY so no one is ever missed our speciality is that despite of too many we ALWAYS lose in big tournaments even when full strength is playing. TOO MANY but in big tournaments we achieve TOO LITTLE.
— Shalabh Pandit (@panditshalabh20) January 28, 2023
Playing Ranji for Haryana
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) January 27, 2023
After his comeback before T20 wc his performance was dismal and still made to the wc team. Dropped immediately after wc without any game in aus. Hopefully gets back and doesn't goes out of radar like Natrajan.
— Maran S (@ShanmugamMaran) January 27, 2023
No Injury ! He is Dropped! OUT of Favor
The T20 specialist didn't get a single game in the T20WC !
Last 4 T20Is
0/45, 0/49, 1/28, 2/41Guess how performace in IPL will be assessed before he is considered as MAVI took his place.
Instead, one should ask where is RAVI BISHNOI?
— shashank singh (@shashank_singh2) January 27, 2023
@cricketaakash Played 1 match against Sri Lanka this year – 40+ runs in 4 overs again. In the same match Mavi took 4 wickets. Next match Harshal got dropped from XI. And for NZ series he is dropped.
Played 2 T20Is in New Zealand tour as well (bowled in 1 innings)
— Deepanshu Thakur (@realdpthakur17) January 27, 2023
