Munaf Patel is a talented and budding young Indian Test cricketer. His full name is Munaf Musa Patel and he was born on 12th July, 1983 in Ikhar, Gujarat. Despite his family's objection to cricket, Munaf pursued it with steadfastness to become part of the national squad recently.
A significant member of Team India's pace attack, Munaf Patel is a promising right arm fest-medium bowler, noted for his devastating pace, late swing, reverse swing and deadly yorkers. He bowls regularly at speeds of over 87 mph, even reaching the 90 mph mark, making him the fastest bowler in Indian cricket. He is also a capable right-hand batsman. Munaf had sharpened his bowling skills at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, under the guidance of legends Dennis Lillee and TA Sekhar.
After his transfer deal to Mumbai began his impressive first-class cricket career. Although his injuries hampered his early career, he tried improving his weaknesses, even visiting the Australian Institute of Sport for bio-mechanical analysis on his bowling action, to improve its efficiency. With noteworthy performances in his debut for India A against New Zealand and the Board President's XI against England, he made the national selectors take note of him and he was selected into the Indian team.
Munaf Patel made his Test debut against England at Mohali in March 2006. Since then Patel has played in 7 Tests, taking 25 wickets overall. His One day international debut came against England at Margao, in April 2006, and since then has played in 20 ODI's, taking 26 wickets at an average of 28.30, with a ODI career best haul of 4/49.
He has also performed well in the 2005/06 Test Series against West Indies, the DLF Cup in Malaysia against Australia, and the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy against England with impressive figures of 3/18, eventually winning the match for India, as well as receiving the Man of the Match Award.