Harshal Patel reveals dealing with rough times in life, getting sold for a high price in auction on RCB Season 2 Podcast

: In 32 summers, Harshal Patel has seen the two vastly contrasting sides of life — crushing sadness and unmitigated happiness.

Harshal’s elder sister passed away early last year leaving the Royal Challengers Bangalore pacer a numb person. But a moment of joy was around the curve as he welcomed a baby boy into his family.

While speaking on RCB Podcast Season 2, 5th of the 10 episodes, Harshal revealed how he dealt with extremities in life and career.

“When my sister passed away, I was in grief for a week. She passed away on April 9 (2022). I was in quarantine. I was talking to my niece and nephew and everyone back home. I wanted to go, hug them and cry with them. But we were doing it on the phone, because that was the only option available. Then seven days later, my son was born. So, I kind of went numb for a week, 10 days. I didn’t really know what I was feeling — whether I should be happy, whether I should be sad. It would all come in waves.

“There were times when I probably cried three-four times in my room every day. And then I would see my son on FaceTime and, and be extremely joyful. When you have those polar emotions, pulling at you constantly, it can be quite draining,” said Harshal.

So, how did he manage to overcome that volatile period in his life and get back to cricket?

crores. But a lot of people around me told me that it could go into double figures. I just didn’t believe them because I’m a cautious optimist. So, when that happened, it was a pleasant shock. I still remember SRH and RCB were going neck to neck and it went over INR 10 crore. I really wanted to come back and play for RCB. So I thought to myself, Okay, it’s enough. I don’t want one more bid, I’m okay with the money I’ve got, I want to go back to RCB,” said Harshal.

But Harshal emphasised that the amount has given him a certain degree of freedom in life to make choices. In fact, Harshal had joined the Delhi Capitals for Rs 20 lakh in 2018 before getting traded to RCB ahead of IPL 2021.

“It gives me choices, freedom. So if I continue to play at this price or even if I don’t continue to play at this price, I don’t really think I need to base any of my life decisions on how much money am I getting? I’m not an extravagant person. I don’t really need a lot of money. But money is a tool to freedom. That’s how I look at it,” said Harshal.