Munaf Patel Profile by CricketArchive

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Player:

MM Patel

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DateLine: 19th February 2007

 

The fastest bowler in India today, Munaf Patels sudden rise makes for an interesting tale. The story goes that former Indian wicket keeper Kiran More saw him bowl at the nets, was duly impressed by what he saw and sent him for training at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai. At this stage he was erratic in line and length but his pace caught the eye and he was strongly built. The rough edges had to be smoothened out for the lad coming from a village in Gujarat. But even as this was being done he tended to be injury prone and missed a number of first class matches. His natural gifts and obvious bowling skills came through even in these limited opportunities and given the big break against England early in 2006 he finished with match figures of ten for 91 while playing for the Board Presidents XI. The selectors wasted little time in giving him a Test cap and he wasted little time in underlining his growing stature by taking seven for 97 “ the best performance by an Indian fast bowler in his first Test. His restricted skills with the bat and in the field did not prevent the selectors from including him in the ODI squad and within a short time Patel by adding more variety to his fast bowling - reverse swing and a deceptive slower delivery “ has made himself a regular in both forms of the game.He was purchased by Rajasthan Royals in the IPL and under the leadership of Shane Warne went on to win the tournament. He has subsequently been an integral part of the one day side and has come up with consistent performances.