Rohit Sharma with Harshal Patel but facts stacked against the fast bowler

Team India may have clinched the 3-match T20 series vs Australia but Rohit Sharma was right to admit that bowling still remains a concern ahead of the T20 World Cup 2022.

While a lot has been spoken about Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel being hit to all parts of the grounds has made matters worse for the skipper.

The pacer's return from injury hasn't been an impressive one. In fact, he has left the team with more question marks. 

In the last 7 T20Is, Harshal has leaked 246 runs in 23 overs and has managed to pick only 6 wickets. His economy rate of 10.6 has probably hurt India the most.

Despite the poor show, Skipper Rohit backed Harshal and invested his faith in the pacer.

As Rohit rightly mentioned, Harshal did well for his franchise, which helped him become a regular in Team India

He had a good IPL 2022 where Harshal picked up 19 wickets in 15 matches at a decent economy rate of 7.6.

But he failed to emulate his good form for RCB in the IPL at the international level. Death bowling has been India's biggest area of worry lately and Harshal's figures there don't make of a great reading.

Among Indian bowlers to have bowled a minimum of 50 balls in the death overs in T20Is, Harshal's economy rate of 11.5 is the worst of all time.

Moreover, he has now conceded 3 sixes in an over for three times in T20 internationals. No other Indian pacer was hit for those many sixes more than once.

No matter how much Rohit Sharma defends the 31-year-old, facts and figures are against the fast bowler as of now.

Also read: The return of the chase master: Virat Kohli becomes India's 2nd highest run-getter