Henil Patel: Tennis-ball cricket builds accuracy, parents' reluctance, fifer on U-19 World Cup debut

New Delhi: A classic dose of nostalgia came alive on Thursday as Indian pacer Henil Patel served fans a reminder of South African fast-bowler Dale Steyn's relentless intensity and dominance during the U-19 World Cup opener against the USA. Henil, who idolises Steyn, scalped five wickets on his U-19 World Cup debut, leaving the batters in two minds with his probing deliveries, accuracy and bounce. The 18-year-old Gujarat pacer chose the perfect occasion to record his maiden five-wicket haul, conceding just 16 runs in a seven-over spell, which included a maiden, helping India knock out the USA for 107 runs. Henil recorded 32 dots during his spell, conceding only one four.



'Building accuracy through tennis-ball cricket'

Interestingly, the 18-year-old cricketer who hails from Gujarat's Jujwa village, developed this command and accuracy through tennis ball cricket, where he initially excelled. Henil's coach Hemant Panchal noted his talent but faced a stern challenge when trying to divert his focus from tennis ball cricket towards the game's leather ball variant, often using force to convince him. The pacer steadily developed the different variations necessary to excel, merging hard work with intelligence.




"Henil's action is very simple and he constantly lands the ball in the same spot, which developed while playing tennis ball cricket, where pinpoint accuracy is necessary. If you land the ball incorrectly, then a six becomes a likely option, which made him very conscious about the bowling zones while maintaining a good run-up," said Panchal during an exclusive interaction with TimesofIndia.com. The Gujarat-based coach convinced the fast-bowler about his talent, making him realise his immense potential.

'Parents' initial reluctance'

Henil hails from a humble background, and his parents were initially unaware of the possibilities that cricket offered. While they showcased hesitance about the Gujarat pacer pursuing a career in the game, Panchal soon won them over, clearing any scope for misunderstanding.

There was a strong focus on positive reinforcement during communication with Henil. However, Panchal also maintained immense emphasis on drawing attention towards a cautionary tale which had emerged as a shock. "Another promising talent from Valsad district came very close to getting opportunities at the national level but missed out, unfortunately, due to an injury concern. I kept reinforcing the necessity to ensure a similar misfortune doesn't strike again, motivating him to stick to NCA's guidelines and follow the process astutely," shared the 18-year-old pacer's coach.

'VVS Laxman's appreciation'

Henil continued to excel across age groups, impressing in the Cooch Behar Trophy and further earning appreciation from VVS Laxman for his performance in the Vinoo Mankad Trophy. The cricketer is quite athletic and can also chip in with useful runs down the order. "Kapil Dev was similarly capable of taking on any challenge, enjoying peak fitness levels. Henil is well capable of batting in the top order as well," stated Panchal. While Henil was a vital part of the Indian U-19 team's overseas tours of England and Australia, he also got a chance to train with the Gujarat senior team due to captain Chintan Gaja's insistence. Team India cricketers Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah have further been a major source of motivation along the journey.

Henil has started off on a strong note with his dominance early into the campaign, emerging as a major talking point. As the road gets tougher, the 18-year-old pacer's fortitude and Steyn-like resilience could certainly swing tight contests in India's favour.

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