After spending more than a decade as one of Haryana’s most dependable cricketers, seamer Harshal Patel has decided to return to his roots. The 34-year-old has signed with Gujarat for the 2025-26 domestic season, completing a full circle in his professional journey as he also wants to retire in his home state.
Harshal was born in Gujarat and even made his List A debut for the state in 2008-09, but opportunities dried up after the Under-19 World Cup in 2010. At that point he shifted to Haryana, where he went on to establish himself as a reliable all-rounder and leader.
Over the next 13 years, Harshal picked up 246 first-class wickets at an average of 24.02, played a key role in Haryana’s rise in white-ball cricket, and was central to their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy triumph in 2023-24. “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,” Harshal told ESPNcricinfo while confirming his move. “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.”
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