5 Most Memorable Parthiv Patel Moments In Indian Cricket

Wicket-keeper batsman, Parthiv Patel announced his retirement from all forms of cricket on Wednesday, 9th December through his Twitter account. Patel made his Test debut for India as a 17-year-old in 2002 against England. Subsequently, in 2003 he made his ODI debut.

Patel last played for India in 2018 against South Africa. He has represented several teams in the IPL, the latest being Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he warmed the benched for the entire IPL 2020 and was out in favour of youngster, Devdutt Padikkal.

With MS Dhoni being at the helm of India for more than a decade, Parthiv Patel was often picked as a back-up keeper. However, the left-hander had an illustrious domestic career leading Gujarat to several titles.

Here we look at 5 memorable moments in Parthi Patel’s career:

Youngest Wicket-keeper in Test history

Parthiv Patel was given his debut Test cap on the 2002 tour to England. Under the leadership of Sourav Ganguly, whom he thanked in particular in his farewell post, Parthiv became the youngest wicket-keeper to play Test cricket at 17 years and 152 days old.

Parthiv had a rollercoaster debut as he got out for a duck in his maiden innings. However, he answered all the questions about his potential and talent in the second innings with a gritty stay on the crease for 60 balls during the last phase of the match as the southpaw helped India save the Test match after being 8 wickets down.

First Indian to record five consecutive hundreds in the first-class cricket

Dropped from the Indian team, Parthiv always staked a claim for a return with his prodigious run-scoring in the domestic circuit. In 2007, the left-hander became the first batsmen to score five consecutive hundreds in the first-class history.

His fifth hundred was against a strong Mumbai attack and is regarded as one of the best innings in domestic cricket. Patel scored 6 centuries and 9 half-centuries that season averaging 68, but could not return to the Indian team as Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni were selected over the left-hander.

Parthiv leads Gujarat to its maiden Ranji title; Man of the Match in the final

Parthiv Patel reached the crescendo of his domestic career in the 2016-17 Ranji season. After leading Gujarat for almost a decade, finally, the southpaw led the team to its maiden Ranji Trophy title as they overcame the might of Mumbai in the final.

Chasing 312 in the fourth innings of the match which extended till its last day, Patel scored a 143 from 196 balls as Gujrat chased down the target inside 90 overs. The skipper also scored a 90 in the first innings to take Gujarat past Mumbai’s first innings score. He was named the Man of the Match in the final as Mumbai lost their first final in 26 years.

95 vs England, Chester-le-street, 2011

India, the World Cup Champions were getting humiliated in England. MS Dhoni’s side was whitewashed in the 4 match Test series and also lost the T20I match preceding the ODI series.

As the team was plagued with injuries to Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Parthiv Patel brought some positive vibes in the dressing room as he struck his highest ODI score of 95 against the likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Samit Patel and Tim Bresnan.

His trademark pull and cut shots were in full display as well as he used the feet to tackle the spinners. Patel may have missed out his hundred by 5 runs, but his innings uplifted the team to fight harder in the next matches.

Sledging Matthew Hayden and Steve Waugh

As Parthiv Patel has announced his retirement, this story is once again going to do rounds on the internet. One needs immense courage to go to Australia and sledge the likes of Matthew Hayden and Steve Waugh. Patel, on his first tour down under in 2003-04 series, had the audacity to poke the Aussie skipper and one of their star opener.

When Steve Waugh, who was playing his farewell series, came in to bat, Patel quipped, “Let’s see if you can play one of those famous slog-sweeps, before you finish.” Waugh, totally unimpressed with the wicket-keeper’s show of disrespect replied, “Show a bit of respect, You were in nappies when I played my first Test match.”

It is no hidden fact that Patel is a diminutive figure- 5 feet 3 inches at his full-grown- and as an 18-year-old – even shorter then – decided to sledge the gaint Matthew Hayden, a feet taller than Patel. While carrying the drinks, Patel passed him passing him by and did a ‘hoo hoo’ sound.

A furious Hayden waited for Patel outside the dressing room and threatened to punch the Indian wicket-keeper. However, both the left-handers became good friends when they played for CSK in the IPL, as the Aussie had invited Patel to dinner in Brisbane.

Also Read: Nasser Hussain Reminds The Favours Done By Other Teams To The ECB After England Cancel Their South African Tour