IPL 2022 | Purple Patel's trail from an additional pacer to RCB’s second-highest wicket-taker

Royal Challengers Bangalore have seen a massive turnaround since the end of the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League. The Virat Kolhi-led unit finished the season as the bottom-dwellers in IPL 12; however, they have been consistently finishing in top-four since then. 

This year too, with different leadership, RCB are doing good work as they have won five matches off seven played. The reason for the franchise’s skyrocketing growth, you ask? 

A) Brilliant leadership. 

B) Refreshing intakes from backroom staff. 

C) Lastly, the revamp of the bowling department. 

The Bold Army, as they call themselves, has always been a star-studded line-up but without the likes of any potent fast-bowler. Yuzvendra Chahal was their go-to bowler, but the leg-spinner didn’t had anyone else to rely on from the other end. 

However, the 2020 edition saw Mohammad Siraj transform into ‘the Mohammad Siraj’, before RCB booked Harshal Patel through their ranks in 2021. 

Harshal, who bagged the Purple Cap in IPL 14, has been associated with the Challengers since 2012 (before having a three-year breakup in 2018-20); but as wine gets more refined with age, Purple Patel has gotten better with age (experience, to be precise). 

Over the years, the 31-year old pacer has added various outfoxing weapons in his arsenal, resulting in him taking 32 wickets in the last edition. In the previous game against Lucknow Super Giants, Harshal added another feather in his hat. 

On Tuesday (April 19), the Haryana seamer surpassed former Indian pacer R Vinay Kumar as his franchise’s second-highest wicket-taker. RCB’s death-over specialist reached this milestone by dismissing KL Rahul, the skipper of the Lucknow, who was caught behind the wickets by Dinesh Karthik.

Chahal is the only bowler to take more wickets than Harshal Patel for RCB. But, before the start of this season, the management backed the pacer over the wily tweaker by buying Harshal for a whopping INR 10.75 crores and leaving the paddle low when Chahal’s bid was going. 

Leaving the leg-spinner had raised countless eyebrows as various pundits, and former cricketers have mocked the Bangalore-based franchise for that move, but fortunately, regaining the services of Harshal is doing wonders for them.

Top 10 Highest wicket-taker for RCB in IPL

Yuzvendra Chahal – 139 wickets in 112 matches

Harshal Patel – 74 wickets in 55 matches

R Vinay Kumar – 72 wickets in 63 matches

Zaheer Khan – 49 wickets in 43 matches

Mohammed Siraj – 46 wickets in 51 matches

Sreenath Aravind – 45 wickets in 38 matches

Anil Kumble – 45 wickets in 42 matches

Mitchell Starc – 34 wickets in 27 matches

Praveen Kumar – 34 wickets in 38 matches

Dale Steyn – 32 wickets in 33 matches