In the early 2000s, Indian cricket team was desperately looking for a wicketkeeper and that was when that 17-year-old, who looked like a ‘little child’ was given the responsibility to keep the wickets for the Indian cricket team. In 2002, when Parthiv Patel entered the Indian cricket team and he was a kid- baby-faced, but talented enough to play an international test match at the age of 17. He received his first Test cap from the then Indian captain SauravGanguly in Nottingham. Now, in 2020, after his much vibrant 18 years old cricket career, this keeper-batsman announced his retirement from all forms of cricket after playing 25 test matches, 38 ODIs and two T20s for India.
Making his retirement announcement via his official Twitter account, this 33-year said that, “Today, I announce retirement from all forms of cricket and as I bring down the curtains on this 18-year-old cricketing journey I feel heavier with gratitude for many”. Till Indian cricket discovered M S Dhoni, Parthiv was there is the team as a wicketkeeper-batsman but he also played some matches under the captaincy of M S. However, SauravGanguly and Anil Kumble are Parthiv’s all-time favourite captains whose influence and support had changed his life, as he says.
Parthiv Patel played his debut test match under the captaincy of SauravGanguly on 8th August 2002 against England. Even though he managed to play 8 balls in the first innings, he played 60 balls in the second innings. When most of the players had to play many different domestic matches to make it into the national team, Parthiv impressed the national selectors during his U-19 days and played in the national team. He holds the rare record of playing international test cricket even before making his Ranji Trophy debut. In fact, it was after his India debut, he represented his state team, Gujarat. This left-hander played his last test match in 2018 against South Africa, at Johannesburg.
Parthiv Patel was indeed a passionate cricket player, who loved the game no matter in which form it is being played. Even though he could not make a come-back to the national team, he was a towering figure in Gujarat domestic cricket for the past fifteen years guiding the team to win the Ranji Trophy for the first time in 2016-2017 season. The majesty Gujarat state team has been made possible through the continuous effort of this cricketer. Parthiv played for many IPL teams including Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings and Bangalore Royal Challengers. After a day of his retirement, he joined Mumbai Indians as a Talent Scout once again showing that his life always revolves around the game of cricket.
