India’s fast bowler Harshal Patel paid tribute to his former Royal Challengers Bangalore and South Africa against great AB de Villiers after he announced his retirement from all forms of play on Friday.
Harshal set the record for the most wickets in an IPL season this year. (Courtesy of BCCI)
HIGHLIGHTS
- AB de Villiers announced his retirement from all forms of the game
- Harshal said he used De Villiers’ advice to avoid big overs in the second half of the IPL
- Harshal won the Player of the Game on his debut for India
Indian fast bowler Harshal Patel said AB de Villiers, with whom he shared a dressing room at Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in the Indian Premier League this season, had told him how to reduce the number of big overs, which he tends to be. De Villiers retired from all forms of cricket on Saturday, making the 2021 season of the IPL, with Harshal hitting the record for the most wickets in a single season.
“AB has shaped my career massively. I have always been a silent observer of him,” said Harshal in a press conference after the game on Saturday.
“Shortly before the UAE stage (the IPL) I asked him how I can reduce my big overs. I even got 30 runs in one over in the IPL and I wanted to avoid that. He told me to change my tactics do not change if the batsman hits me with my good deliveries, “said Harshal.
“You have to force the batsman to hit your good deliveries instead of changing them as soon as you get hit, because that’s what the batsman has been expecting throughout my career.”
Previously, De Villiers’ long-time RCB teammate and former captain Virat Kohli also paid tribute to De Villiers. “For the best player of our time and the most inspiring person I have met, you can be very proud of what you did and what you gave my brother RCB. Our bond goes beyond the game and always will be . ” This hurts my heart, but I know you made the best decision for yourself and your family, like you always have. I love you @ ABdeVilliers17, “said Kohli.
For the best player of our time and the most inspiring person I have met, you can be very proud of what you did and what you gave my brother RCB. Our bond goes beyond the game and always will be.
– Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) November 19, 2021
AB de Villiers, who quit his career as one of the game’s greatest players in the shortest format, had 9,424 runs in 340 games in T20 cricket after playing franchise-based cricket around the world. He retired from international cricket in 2018 after scoring 1,672 runs in 78 T20Is, 9,577 runs in 228 ODI games, and 8,765 runs in 114 Tests.
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