Harshal Patel sets new record

Harshal’s first wicket of the match pushed him into an elite group of IPL legends for he became the 13th bowler in the league's distinguished history to have taken more than 150 wickets.

Hyderabad: One of the unsung heroes of IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad’s fast bowler Harshal Patel set a new record in the IPL by reaching the magical 150-wicket mark quicker than any other bowler in the championship’s history in terms of number of balls bowled.

Harshal’s first wicket of the match pushed him into an elite group of IPL legends for he became the 13th bowler in the league’s distinguished history to have taken more than 150 wickets.

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The unassuming fast bowler, who earlier won the Purple Cap in the IPL, achieved the in a mere 2,381 deliveries, surpassing the previous record held by the legendary Sri Lankan fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who took 2,444 balls to reach the same mark.

This achievement also meant that Harshal, whose first IPL was in 2012 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, leads the select band of IPL greats including Yuzvendra Chahal (2,543 balls), Dwayne Bravo (2,656 balls), and Jasprit Bumrah (2,832 balls).

While Harshal Patel has played 117 matches, spanning 114 innings, to reach this milestone – a figure only surpassed by Lasith Malinga’s 105 matches – his consistent performance and his proven ability to deliver effectively in high-pressure situations have been defining characteristics of his Indian Premier League career.