Not Jasprit Bumrah! India's U19 star Henil Patel names South African legend as his favourite fast bowler of all time

Published - 16 Jan 2026, 14:21 IST | Updated - 16 Jan 2026, 14:48 IST

Henil Patel is one of the fast bowlers to watch out for in the 2026 edition of the U19 World Cup. The tournament got underway on Thursday, January 15 and in the first match between India and the USA, Patel wreaked havoc, bagging an impressive five-wicket haul at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.

The right-arm pacer from Gujarat said ahead of the World Cup that he admires South Africa's legendary speedster Dale Steyn. Patel added that the quality he likes most about the former cricketer is his aggression.

“What I get from Dale Steyn is that I like his aggression a lot. His bowling was so good that no batter could play against him easily because he was so tough to face," Henil had told ICC ahead of the tournament.

Patel finished with stunning figures of 5/16 in his seven-over spell on Thursday. He was on fire with the new ball, sending three out of the top four batters in USA's lineup back to the hut. The 18-year-old returned with an older ball and picked up two lower-order wickets in the 35th over to complete his five-for.

Later, Henil revealed that the secret behind his success was his plan to target the stumps and aim to dismiss a batter even before he could get himself set at the crease.

“I have a mindset to get the batter out within three to four balls. I go into training with a proper mindset, I get my body ready and it is the same in a game. It is all about taking early wickets," Henil said.

The USA were bowled out for just 107 in 35.2 overs on Thursday. In reply, India romped home in the 18th over with six wickets to spare. The target was revised to 96 in 37 overs due to rain.

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India will now shift their focus to their second match in the campaign, which is against Bangladesh. This enticing encounter will be played in Bulawayo on Saturday, January 17.