"I strongly believe that even if you concede 50 runs in 3 overs, you could bowl your 4th over and win the game for the team" - Harshal Patel
Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) seamer Harshal Patel has addressed his shaky form in the ongoing 2023 Indian Premier League (IPL). The former Purple Cap winner has taken 10 wickets in this edition at an economy rate of 9.77, coming in as an impact player across a few matches as well.
RCB are perilously placed in the points table and their next match could go on to define their season. The Faf du Plessis-led side have played 10 matches, winning five of them, and have a net run rate of -0.209, which places them outside the qualification zone for the time being.
Ahead of RCB's crucial fixture against the Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium, Harshal said on RCB Game Day Preview:
"I strongly believe that even if you concede 50 runs in three overs, you could bowl your fourth over and win the game for the team. The challenge is to always focus on the next ball and that is how you stay in the game and stay in the hunt."
He continued:
"The confidence comes from the execution of skill. So, the more you do it, the more confident you become. There are instances where you can't do it and I've been going through that a lot this season. So, when you are going through something like that, you come back to the nets and try to correct whatever mistakes you think you are making."
RCB's last win at the Wankhede Stadium came in 2015, in what became an iconic contest following AB de Villiers' dominating hundred. Since then, they have gone on to lose three consecutive matches against MI at this venue, with the most recent being in 2019.
"You have to change your sequencing a little bit when you are bowling at The Wankhede" - Harshal Patel
The Wankhede comes across as a challenging venue for the bowlers, especially in the second innings. Harshal Patel has a decent record bowling here over the years with 13 wickets to his name.
Explaining the difference between bowling at the Wankhede compared to other venues, Harshal said:
"You have to change your sequencing a little bit when you are bowling at The Wankhede. We are used to bowling a certain way when it comes to the Chinnaswamy or on slower pitches, but when you come to a ground like this, you have to back your on-page deliveries and try to push the batter back and bowl more conventionally."
RCB will take on MI at the Wankhede Stadium on Tuesday, May 9.
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