Parthiv Patel, who recently announced his retirement, was youngest Indian keeper who played Tests for India when he made his debut at the age of 17.
When a baby-faced young Indian walked out on the lush green fields of Trent Bridge in Nottingham during the 2002 Test against England, a 17-year-old from Ahmedabad had made the entry into the league where the big boys played rough and tough. Parthiv Patel created history in 2002 when he kept wickets for India in the Trent Bridge Test against England. He showed good technique and was calm with the bat as he set about establishing himself in the Indian cricket team. His journey followed the period when Indian cricket was at an upswing under Sourav Ganguly. Parthiv Patel played a key role in India drawing the series 1-1 against Australia while his 69 in the Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan paved the way for a historic series win in Pakistan for the first time. However, the emergence of MS Dhoni made the landscape a bit difficult for Parthiv Patel.
Parthiv Patel could not seal his spot in the Indian cricket team on a consistent basis due to the prowess of MS Dhoni. When the IPL came, Parthiv Patel played for various franchises and played a big part in the victories of some of the key franchises, especially Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians. Towards the end of his career, Parthiv Patel played for Royal Challengers Bangalore but did not play in a single game in IPL 2020. After being on the cricketing circuit for 18 years, on December 9, 2020, Parthiv Patel announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. On the occasion of his retirement, here is a look back at some of the most iconic moments for India and the IPL in his playing career.
1. Parthiv Patel retirement
)
Parthiv Patel had already started playing First Class cricket for Gujarat in the 2001/02 season. His stellar exploits with both the bat and behind the stumps played a key factor in his selection for the Indian cricket team, who were on the lookout for a keeper who could also bat. Parthiv Patel was included in the series and debuted at Trent Bridge at 17 years and 153 days to become Test Cricket's youngest wicketkeeper beating the record previously held by Pakistan's Hanif Mohammed (17 years and 300 days). He played out an hour in the match while batting and hence saved India from defeat. After the match, Alex Stewart, the England veteran had a word with Parthiv Patel which was very encouraging. (Image credit: Twitter)
2. Parthiv Patel retirement
)
Parthiv Patel also traveled with the team to South Africa for the 2003 Cricket World Cup, missing out on his high-school board examinations in the process. He was persisted with for a year after that, and he impressed with his solid batting lower down the order, essaying a dominating 62 in the company of the great Sachin Tendulkar at the SCG, memorably smashing Brett Lee and co. to all parts and counterattacking to take India to their highest ever total in Tests.
More importantly, Parthiv Patel could show that he sledge the Master Sledgers and beat them in their own game. His sledging of Steve Waugh was epic in his final Test while he riled Matthew Hayden up in such a way that the Australian left-hander wanted to ‘beat him up’. His performances in Australia summed up his worth to the Indian cricket team. (Image credit: Twitter)
3. Parthiv Patel retirement
)
Parthiv Patel's stock went up in the next tour of India which was to Pakistan in 2004. This was the first time India were touring the country after 15 years and it was a massive occasion. The occasion could not have gotten bigger than the third and final Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. With the series level 1-1, both teams had plenty at stake. Parthiv made a half-century in a losing cause in Lahore before being entrusted with the responsibility of opening the batting at Rawalpindi. Having lost Sehwag, he exhibited dogged resistance along with Rahul Dravid against the hostile pace of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami to lead India to a historic first Test series win in Pakistan. This was the peak in Parthiv Patel's career. (Image credit: Twitter)
4. Parthiv Patel retirement
)
However, the emergence of MS Dhoni and Dinesh Karthik, combined with his own inconsistency, saw Parthiv Patel fade away in the Indian cricket team. With the rise of MS Dhoni as a wicketkeeper-batsman and his subsequent reign as captain of the Indian team, Parthiv's opportunities faded - as did the opportunities for most other aspiring wicketkeepers in the country. Parthiv continued to top the run-charts for his Ranji side Gujarat in the domestic circuit.He was with the Chennai Super Kings in the first three years of the IPL, delivering some important performances as an opener, especially a 60 in the final of the inaugural edition in a losing cause. He was subsequently shuffled around the IPL circuit, roped in by several franchises over the years. (Image credit: Twitter)
5. Parthiv Patel retirement
)
Parthiv Patel led Gujarat to glory in the 2016 Ranji Trophy with a magnificent 143 in the final against Mumbai to give them first title. Parthiv got a call-up to the Indian Test team once again for the third Test against England at Mohali due to an injury to Saha. A more mature Parthiv grabbed this opportunity with both hands and hammered two half-centuries, the second one coming at quicker than a run-a-ball to hastens India's victory. Under a fidgety skipper in Virat Kohli, though, Parthiv once again faded away despite a commendable comeback. Ironically, under Kohli, he played his final years for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL but he was not picked in the playing 11 for any game in IPL 2020. (Image credit: Twitter)
