Harshal Patel, Royal Challengers Bangalore’s premier pacer, on Thursday injured his bowling hand and had to walk off the field vs the Gujarat Titans at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. 

Patel, in the 13th over of the first innings, hurt his webbing while trying to field the ball. His hand was bleeding and the 31-year-old walked off the field. The pacer had delivered one over against the Gujarat Titans, giving six runs. 

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Why does Harshal Patel’s absence hurt RCB?

With Patel down, Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Faf du Plessis had to ask his part-timers Glenn Maxwell and Mahipal Lomror to cover for the three overs. The Aussie ended up bowling four, giving 28 runs and picking one wicket. Lomror gave 11 in his only over. 

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In the long-term, the 2016 finalists could be largely affected by Patel’s absence in the playoffs if he is ruled out and they somehow make it. He has been their mainstay since last season, when he won the purple cap with 32 wickets. 

In IPL 2022, Harshal Patel has taken 18 wickets in 13 games at 19.77 and economy rate of 7.68 rpo. He is RCB’s second-highest wicket-taker, behind Wanindu Hasaranga (24), this season. 

He had recently bowled a double-wicket last over against the Punjab Kings. Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar praised him one of ‘India’s best death overs bowlers’. 

“Harshal Patel was the sole reason Punjab was able to score 209 points on the board. With each match, his bowling has gotten better as he has gotten better at hiding his variation. Harshal, you bowled beautifully, and I believe he is one of the best death-over bowlers in the country,” Tendulkar said on his YouTube channel. 

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On Thursday, skipper Hardik Pandya scored a gritty half-century to lift Gujarat Titans to a competitive 168 for five against Royal Challengers Bangalore. 

Coming into the game with a string of low scores, Hardik warmed up nicely for the play-offs with a well crafted 62 not out off 47 balls even though he was not at his fluent best.

RCB, needing a win to stay alive in the tournament, limited GT to 72 for three in 10 overs, largely due to their brilliance in the field despite Wriddhiman Saha’s (31 off 22) threatening stay in the middle.