U19 WC: Henil Patel attributes Steyn’s aggression to the win

New Delhi: India U19 pacer Henil Patel cited former South African pacer Dale Steyn as his inspiration behind his match-winning performance against the USA in the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Patel bowled a match-winning spell of 5 for 16 against the USA on Thursday, helping India to a six-wicket win and a strong start to their U19 World Cup campaign. Patel said that growing up, Steyn was his favorite bowler, and he tries to copy Steyn’s bowling style.
“What I learned from Dale Steyn is that I loved his aggression,” Patel told ICC Digital. “His bowling was so good that no batsman could play easily against him because he was very difficult to face.”
This was the third-best bowling performance by an Indian in any Men’s Under-19 World Cup. Only Kamal Pasi’s 6 for 23 against Zimbabwe in 2012 and Anukul Roy’s 5 for 14 against Papua New Guinea in 2018 are better than him.
Three of Patel’s five wickets came during a strong new-ball spell at the Queens Sports Club, leaving the USA struggling at 34 for 4. The calm 18-year-old later said that his initial success came from pitching the ball up, aiming at the stumps, and always looking to take wickets.
“My mindset is to get the batsman out in three to four balls,” Patel said. “I go into training with the right mindset, I prepare my body, and the same goes for matches. It’s all about taking early wickets. I go in with that mindset and stay calm.”
Five-time champions India won the toss and put the USA in to bat first, and Henil Patel immediately justified that decision by bowling a powerful opening spell that shattered the USA top order. The right-arm pacer took three wickets in the first 12 overs, reducing the USA to 35/4.
The Indians then tightened the screws on the USA middle-order, taking wickets at regular intervals, with Deepesh Devendran, Ambareesh RS, Khilan Patel, and Vaibhav Suryavanshi all taking one wicket. Patel then returned to clean up the tail, taking his first five-wicket haul of the tournament, dismissing the USA for just 107 runs in 36 overs.
India will take on Bangladesh in their second Group A game on Saturday.