Indian Pacer Harshal Patel Returns to Gujarat After 14 Years Stint with Haryana

In domestic cricket, Indian bowler Harshal Patel is returning to Gujarat, where he began playing for the Under-19 team in 2008–09. After playing most of his domestic cricket for Haryana for 14 years, being named captain, and receiving numerous opportunities in the IPL and later India, Patel is returning to Gujarat with the hopes of finishing his career there and spending a little more time with his family.

After completing all the necessary paperwork, Harshal will be ready for Gujarat's preseason preparations, which start later this month with a tri-series between Saurashtra and Baroda. In actuality, the pacer will be going back to his origins. After making an impression in youth cricket, Harshal, who was born in Gujarat, made his List A debut for the state in the 2008–09 season. He relocated to Haryana to pursue his career after struggling to find opportunities in Gujarat following his return from the 2010 Under-19 World Cup.

Indian Pacer Harshal Patel Gets Candid:

ESPN quotes Harshal saying, "Right from 2010-11, since my Under-19 days, almost the entirety of my professional career has been with Haryana, I owe a lot to them. If that move to Haryana as an 18-year-old hadn't worked out for me, I would have probably moved to the USA and not played cricket in India."

"Pretty excited to see what I can add here"

Harshal Patel returns to Gujarat after 14 years with Haryana

Full interview: https://t.co/f0aMl9FHwo 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/BrMRFIqVpF

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) September 2, 2025

In 74 games at an average of 24.02, Patel has claimed 246 wickets in first-class cricket, including 12 five-wicket hauls. With the Gujarat team going through a transitional period, Patel said he is still driven to play cricket, bowling 10 to 15 overs a day and performing well. He was thrilled to help in any way he could.

Harshal made his first-class debut for Haryana in the 2011–12 season, demonstrating the success of the transition. He established himself as a mainstay of their bowling attack in all formats during the ensuing ten years. He has taken 246 wickets at an average of 24.02 in 74 first-class games, including 12 five-wicket hauls. His white-ball exploits have had just as much of an impact. Harshal was essential to Haryana's first Vijay Hazare Trophy victory in the 2023–24 season and helped turn the team into a formidable force in the shorter formats.

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