Hot on the heels of Jayant Yadav’s departure, another senior Haryana cricketer has opted for a switch. India seamer Harshal Patel has signed with Gujarat for the 2025-26 domestic season, completing all formalities and making himself available for the team’s pre-season tri-series later this month, also involving Baroda and Saurashtra.
For Harshal, the move marks a homecoming. Born in Gujarat, he made his List A debut for the state in 2008-09 after an impressive Under-19 season, but moved to Haryana soon after the 2010 U-19 World Cup when opportunities dried up. He went on to make his first-class debut for Haryana in 2011-12, becoming a key figure across formats for over a decade.
During his time with Haryana, Harshal picked up 246 first-class wickets in 74 matches at an average of 24.02, including 12 five-wicket hauls. He was instrumental in their white-ball rise, playing a big part in Haryana’s maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy win in 2023-24.
Reflecting on the decision, Harshal admitted that family considerations played a big role.
“Almost my entire professional career has been with Haryana, I owe a lot to them,” Harshal told ESPNcricinfo. “If that move hadn’t worked out, I would probably have gone to the USA and not played cricket in India. But now it was getting difficult to be away from family for long, so I wanted to come back and finish my career here.”
Harshal revealed that Gujarat were his first choice and the association welcomed him back warmly.
“I first asked Anil Patel [secretary, Gujarat Cricket Association], and he was gracious enough to say, ‘this is your home, welcome back.’ While my specialisation will remain white-ball, I’m happy to play red-ball cricket too if given the chance.”
Though he hasn’t been a first-class regular in recent seasons — just seven red-ball games over two years — Harshal insists he is fit and eager for the grind.
“My body allows me to bowl 20 overs a day through a Ranji season. I love the grind. The goal has always been to play the best cricket I can for as long as possible, irrespective of the format.”
At 34, Harshal remains an IPL regular, coming off a strong 2025 campaign with Sunrisers Hyderabad (16 wickets in 13 games). He last played for India in January 2023 but says a comeback is not on his mind.
“My motivation has never been about India selection or IPL. It’s about whether I still have the hunger to bowl long spells over months. And the answer is yes.”
Looking ahead, Harshal hopes to bring his experience to a Gujarat squad in transition under head coach Ramesh Powar.
“I’m excited to see what I can add to the team. If I can mentor players and contribute to their growth, there’s no bigger satisfaction. I play this game because I love it, and that’s what still drives me.”
