A stylish middle order batsman, he started playing for Worcestershire in 1976, having moved to England in 1968. He continued to play for them until 1986, playing 236 matches, scoring 9734 runs at 29.23, and taking 357 wickets at 36.66. Patel made his Test debut against the West Indies in 1987; he scored 18 and 20, both times being dismissed by Courtney Walsh, and bowled 3 overs. He made his ODI debut in the series that followed. His highest score in Tests came when he was run out for 99 against England in 1992. His best bowling figures of 6 for 50 also came in 1992 against Zimbabwe.