Under the glaring afternoon sun on Saturday, Urvil Patel faced throwdowns for more than 30 minutes in preparation for Gujarat’s Ranji Trophy duel against Delhi. For much of the net session at the Palam ground, the 28-year-old honed his attacking strokes.
Afterwards, the Gujarat wicketkeeper-batter spoke enthusiastically of the confidence that the CSK stint has infused. M.S. Dhoni’s guidance from close quarters was the icing on the cake for Urvil. “After playing in the IPL, confidence is high. Just seeing Mahi bhai around gives confidence. With the added exposure, he is aware of the enhancements needed in his game.
He did so whilst donning yellow-coloured batting gloves, a not-so-subtle reminder of his association with Chennai Super Kings since the 2025 Indian Premier League (IPL). In the 2026 IPL, he notably took just 13 balls against Lucknow Super Giants to bring up a half-century, the joint-fastest in the T20 league’s history. Despite his blazing 23-ball 65 versus LSG, he compiled just 129 runs in seven games this year.
I was fortunate to have my seat next to his in the CSK dressing room,” Urvil told the media on Saturday.