Patel was born in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. He attended school in India before moving to the United States as a teenager in 2003,[2] where his family settled in Southern California.[3]
Patel holds a master's degree in pharmaceutical science. He worked in England for several years at the local branch of an American pharmaceutical company,[4] obtaining British citizenship.[3] He later transferred back to Los Angeles in a project management role.[4]
Patel was chosen in the U.S. squad for the 2015 ICC Americas Twenty20 Division One, but was subsequently ruled ineligible for the tournament by the ICC on the grounds he had not demonstrated the residency requirements for non-citizens.[3]
Patel made his senior debut for the United States against Canada in the 2017 Auty Cup fixture.[5] In January 2018, he was named in the United States squad for the 2017–18 Regional Super50 tournament in the West Indies.[6] He made his List A debut for the United States against the Leeward Islands in the 2017–18 Regional Super50 on January 31, 2018.[7]
In November 2019, he was named in the United States' squad for the 2019–20 Regional Super50 tournament.[15] In November 2020, Patel's bowling action was deemed to be illegal by the International Cricket Council (ICC).[16] In February 2021, he was cleared by the ICC to resume bowling in international matches.[17] In June 2021, he was selected to take part in the Minor League Cricket tournament in the United States following the players' draft.[18]