RCB's Harshal Patel helps team to victory, then returns home after family member passes away

Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) pacer Harshal Patel has left the Indian Premier League (IPL) bio-bubble after receiving the unfortunate news of the death of a family member.

According to reports, the RCB pacer exited the bubble after getting the information about the unfortunate tragedy in the family following the Bengaluru-based outfit's win over the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Saturday (April) night.

Harshal has been the star performer for RCB over the last couple of seasons. He picked up two wickets on Saturday as the Faf du Plessis-led team landed a seven-wicket defeat on MI.

“Unfortunately, Harshal had to leave the bio-bubble due to a death in his family. He will be rejoining the bubble before the next game against CSK on April 12,” said an IPL source.

RCB face an out-of-form Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Tuesday (April 12).

Harshal is among the top talents in the IPL. His breakthrough season came in 2021 when the 31-year-old right-arm medium pacer won the Purple Cap after picking up 32 wickets. This season, he already has six wickets in four matches with an impressive economy rate of 5.5.