Revision as of 10:21, 13 December 2020

A brief biography

Gaurav Gupta, December 10, 2020: The Times of India

Parthiv Patel, who at 17 years and 153 days became the youngest since Sachin Tendulkar to have played for India when he made his debut in 2002 under Sourav Ganguly, has announced his retirement at the age of 35.

“After having played for India, and for 18 years in first-class cricket, I felt this was the right time for me (to retire). I’ve been contemplating this for a year now. I go as a content, satisfied man. There’s hardly anything else to achieve (for me) as a player and as a captain of a first-class team (Gujarat), which has won almost everything (under him). I’ve been a part of three IPL victories. Gujarat cricket is in good shape,” the wicketkeeper told reporters.

In a rarity, the baby-faced Parthiv made his Ranji Trophy debut only after his Test debut. However, Parthiv’s first tryst with the India cap ended in 2004 when he was dropped due to below-par glovework. For a teenager back then, was it tough to be under that kind of scrutiny?

“I never doubted myself, there was never a lack of self-belief. It’s clear: when I drop a catch, you guys have to write it. It’s as simple as that. I never felt I was being singled out. As a player, you learn from that and try and motivate yourself to do better,” he said.

Once MS Dhoni burst on to the scene in 2005, Parthiv, like Dinesh Karthik, was left being as a backup wicketkeeper, or even playing as a specialist batsman, and made several comebacks into the Indian team.

Parthiv went on to transform Gujarat from no-hopers to a force to reckon with in domestic cricket. Under him they went on to win their maiden Vijay Hazare Trophy, and then peaked when they beat Mumbai in the final in Indore to their maiden Ranji Trophy title (2016-17).

Leading inspirationally, Parthiv cracked 90 and 143 in the final as Gujarat chased down 313 in the fourth innings on the final day.

In that same season, in November 2016, he made a surprising comeback into the Indian team after eight years, in the home Test series against England, and proved his class and experience with scores of 42, 67*, 15 & 71, thrice opening the innings with immense success.

“For me, the biggest pressure was about making a comeback. When you perform year after year, yet you have to wait for your chance, and you hope that the chance comes at the right time,” he said.