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Out-of-favour India speedster Hashal Patel is set to return to the Gujarat team after spending 14 years with Haryana at the domestic circuit. The 34-year-old had started his domestic career at Gujarat back during the 2008-09 season, however he soon made the move to Haryana and played most of his career there.
It was during his days with Haryana that Harshal got multiple opportunities in IPL and even ended up starring in the tournament. The pacer was also made the captain of his state team at one stage and after years of hardwork, he finally made his debut for the national team in 2021. Notably, Harshal has only featured for India in the shortest format, picking up 29 scalps in 25 matches. His last appearanace for the Men in Blue came in January, 2023.
With the upcoming domestic season on the cards, Harshal has made quite a surprising decision and has rejoined the Gujarat team. When asked about his decision, the pacer revealed that he is moving back to the team so that he can spend more time with his family and end his career there. The 34-year-old also thanked Haryana for giving him the chance to play for them and remarked that he would have moved to the USA if the move hadn't been successful.
"Out-of-favour India pacer returns to Gujarat after spending 14 years with Haryana in domestic cricket. 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," Harshal said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.
"It was getting difficult for me to be away from the family for long periods of time. So I wanted to come back and see if I could finish my career here. Glad I got an opportunity to do that," he added.
Harshal's stellar first-class career
Meanwhile, Harshal has brilliant numbers in first-class cricket and has so far picked up a total of 246 scalps in 74 matches. He has 13 four-wicket hauls and 12 five-wicket hauls under his belt, including the best bowling figures of 8/34 in an innings. He will be looking to rack up many more wickets in the upcoming domestic season with Gujarat.
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