'I had been visualising prospects of facing Bumrah... had to seclude myself in a room': USA captain Monank Patel recalls he was inconsolable over missing India game

USA captain Monank Patel was visualising himself facing India's pace-bowling spearhead Jasprit Bumrah in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024. The Gujarat-born batter proved his mettle with a half-century against Pakistan in the historic win at Dallas but his happiness turned into sorrow when he was taken to the Nassau Medical Center hospital. After a six-hour wait, he was told that he won't be able to play the next game against India due to shoulder injury. Patel was devastated after learning the news and the team doctor failed to console him. A few weeks after USA created history by reaching the Super 8 stage of T20 World Cup 2024 on their debut, Patel has opened up on how he felt after the injury. 
 

"It took me a good two days to accept that I wasn't playing against India. I had been visualising the prospects of facing Bumrah and company the moment the groups were announced. The constant text messages and calls from friends and family were not helping either. I had to seclude myself in a room and chew it away. The enormity of the moment hit me when the teams aligned for the national anthems. Going out for the toss would have been a big moment for me as USA captain. But it is all in the past," Monank told Cricbuzz.
 

In Patel's absence, vice-captain Aaron Jones led co-hosts USA. They gave a tough fight to India in New York but erred at critical moments and lost the match. Patel could not make another appearance in the World Cup as he was ruled out of the tournament. 

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Patel’s fifty in Dallas and Rashid’s golden advice

On his return after injury, he registered two single-digit scores for MI New York in the Major League Cricket (MLC) 2024. But coming back to Dallas, runs flowed off his bat. He scored 61 runs against Texas Super Kings in the run chase on July 14. He hit three fours and four sixes in his 45-ball 61. He shared a crucial 93-run partnership with Rashid Khan after MI New York lost five wickets for 52 runs. But even Rashid’s 23-ball 50 could not help MI New York chase down 177 as they lost by 15 runs. The 31-year-old recalled useful advice from teammate Rashid.
 

"Rashid asked me to play my game, which is cricketing shots. He said 'aap jo karna chah rahe ho woh mein karunga (I will swing wildly instead of you).' He further explained if I try to score like you I won't succeed and if you try to score like me you won't succeed," he said. 

ALSO READ: India's outgoing batting coach Vikram Rathour names two players who can replace Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma and become team's 'backbone'
 

He will be seen in action again when MI New York take on Washington Freedom on July 16 at the same venue.
 

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