Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel (Credits: File photo)

Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel has hailed his first Test captain Sourav Ganguly as a “leader in true sense” while also praising the legendary Anil Kumble. The 35-year old brought down curtains on his cricket career on Wednesday as he announced his retirement from all forms of the game.

Parthiv Patel had made his Test debut way back in 2002 as a 17-year old under the captaincy of Sourav Ganguly. He was Test cricket’s youngest wicketkeeper when he made his debut at the international level.

Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel. Credits – Getty

Later, he went on to play Tests and other formats under the captaincy of MS Dhoni, Anil Kumble and Virat Kohli. His last appearance for Team India came during the tour of South Africa in 2018. Overall, he represented India in 25 Tests, 38 ODIs and 2 T20Is having made his international debut as a 17-year old in 2002.

And it looks like no captain managed to make an impression on him like Sourav Ganguly as well as Kumble. Parthiv Patel was all praise for Ganguly’s man-management skills. He also credited Ganguly and Kumble for making him the kind of person he is.

“I would always hold Sourav Ganguly as a leader in true sense with his man management skills. Sourav and Anil Kumble were great leaders and they made me the kind of person I am,” Parthiv Patel told reporters  during a virtual interaction.

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“I still have the Test cap with my name wrongly printed ‘Partiv’ that Dada gave me. The victories at Headingley (2002) and Adelaide (2003-04) and the half-century opening the innings at Rawalpindi will be my favourite memories,” he added.

Sourav Ganguly
Sourav Ganguly at the Eden Gardens (Credits: ESPNCricinfo)

Not a sudden decision:

The wicketkeeper-batsman also stated that his decision to retire from all forms of the game was well planned. Parthiv Patel said that retirement was on his mind for the last one year and that the timing couldn’t have been better.

“I am at peace with my decision and slept well. Although my family members were in tears. I was contemplating this for one year and after 18 years, there is hardly anything else to achieve.

“I have won all domestic tournaments, three IPL trophies and Gujarat cricket is in right shape,” Parthiv Patel said.

Also Read: Parthiv Patel Has Been A Brilliant Ambassador For Indian Cricket; Pleasure To Have Captained Him: Sourav Ganguly

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