Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) medium pacer Harshal Patel has left the team bio-bubble in Pune and returned back home after his sister’s death.

Patel played a crucial role in RCB’s last night’s seven-wicket victory over Rohit Sharma’s Mumbai Indians at the MCA Stadium in Pune. According to a report in Hindi website Dainik Jagran, the Sanand-born learnt about his sister’s demise during the match and he left for his home as soon as the match got over.

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The 31-year-old has gone back home only for one day and will rejoin the RCB squad soon after. However, given the strict COVID-19 guidelines laid out by the BCCI, the pacer might be asked to complete the mandatory quarantine before he is allowed to mingle with the other team members upon his arrival.

Stay strong @HarshalPatel23. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time.

— Pari (@BluntIndianGal) April 10, 2022

bc jo abhi bhi IPL match ke baare mein soch rahe hai laanat hai unpe

— ViKrAnT⁴5 (Vicky) (@VikrantSolver) April 10, 2022

Cricket availability should be the last thing to be discussed. Stay strong, champ. More power to you and your family.

— Sanchit Desai (@sanchitd43) April 10, 2022

Family comes first and RCB management made all the arrangements for him to be with his family members in this time of grief. The fans were left stunned as the news started doing rounds on the internet and they offered their condolences and prayed to the almighty to give the Patel household the strength to deal with this tragic loss.

He available for csk match?
Stay strong camp

— Ramrajsarma01 (@RamRam28766807) April 10, 2022

He will be playing on 12 april .
In case you dont know

— Shashank Rajput (thank you VK ) (@i_am_virat_fan) April 10, 2022

Isme bhi mi fans hans rahe
Aur RCB fans availability pe Questions kar rahe https://t.co/KVV6C9bHkF

— (@kaam_kar_apna) April 10, 2022

However, there were a few insensitive bunch of people who instead of sympathising with the RCB star seemed more worried about his availability for the upcoming IPL matches.

Patel has, no doubt, been one of RCB’s better bowlers this season alongside Wanindu Hasaranga and has played a key role in their brilliant start to the new season.

Harshal Patel strikes at the right time for @RCBTweets @SDhawan25 departs after a well-made

Live - https://t.co/LiRFG8lgc7 #TATAIPL #PBKSvRCB pic.twitter.com/r8c0qmEHbg

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 27, 2022

The Haryana pacer has picked up six wickets in four matches at an outstanding economy of 5.50, and this while bowling some of the most difficult overs towards the fag end of the innings which makes this stat all the more impressive.

His unavailability might affect RCB’s game plan but people must realise that this is not the right time to worry about whether he will be available for the next match or not.

Harshal Patel with the much needed breakthrough as Shikhar Dhawan departs for 43 runs.

Live - https://t.co/z5hns662XQ #RCBvDC #VIVOIPL pic.twitter.com/VL6ZcOIUtl

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) October 8, 2021

There are much more important things in life than cricket and family is certainly one of them. Losing a close family member is never easy and Patel should be allowed all the time he needs to recover from this unbearable loss.

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