Asia Cup : Selectors reward in form Parthiv with national call-up: The diminutive Gujarat wicket-keeper- batsman, gets the nod of the BCCI’s wise men for the Asia Cup 2016, to be played in Bangladesh, albeit as a ‘back-up’ for the Indian skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who, according to a BCCI release, suffered a muscle spasm in his back, during a training session in Dhaka, prior to India’s first encounter against the hosts, Bangladesh. The match is scheduled for 24th February, 2016.
Parthiv had a successful run in the domestic circuit. In Ranji Trophy 2008-09 season, he ended scoring 526 runs from 11 innings, averaging 47.81 with a century and three half-centuries.
The same 11 innings in 2009-10 saw him accumulate 727 runs at an average of 66.09 with 3 centuries and 4 half centuries.
Patel gathered runs at an average of 54.20 in the 2011-12 series, playing in only 4 games and had a couple of centuries to his credit.
He was fourth in the overall chart of ‘high run-scorers’ in the 2012-13 series, knocking up 895 runs from 13 innings, average a remarkable 68.84 runs with 162 as his highest score while 2013-14 season saw him accumulate 594 runs from 11 games, averaging 54.00 with a couple of centuries and three half-tons.
While he had a lacklustre 2014-15 season with just 380 runs from ten innings, averaging 47.50 with only a couple of half-centuries, in the current season 2015-16, Patel has accumulated 452 runs in 12 innings and being unbeaten on 2 occasions, he has averaged 45.20 with 2 centuries and 2 half centuries. His highest individual score is 122.
The 30-year old also had a decent outing in the recently concluded Vijay Hazare Trophy 2015. Featuring in 8 games he had scored 295 runs at an average of 36.87 with a century and a half-century.
Averaging 52.16 in 7 games of the domestic version of T20, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2016, with four half-centuries, Patel has definitely established his credentials to be a front-runner for a slot in the national squad.
At 17 years, 152 days, the diminutive Parthiv Patel became the youngest wicket-keeper in cricketing history, when he was called to do national duty as a replacement for the injured Ajay Ratra in the second Test against England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on 8th August, 2012. He had broken the record of Hanif Mohammad of Pakistan (17 years and 300 days). By then Parthiv had not played even a single First-Class match.
His glove-work was very much suspect, especially while ‘standing-up’ to the spinners. His batting prowess helped him in getting the selectors’ nod until they ran out of patience and replaced him with Dinesh Karthik in the fourth and final Test against Australia in Mumbai in November, 2004.
Patel was recalled for the national duty during India’s tour to Sri Lanka for three-Test series in July-August 2008. He got an opportunity to play in the third Test but could not do anything worthy.
This was the last heard of Parthiv Patel in the Test arena.
It’s not sure whether Parthiv would even get an opportunity to play in the asia Cup 2016 tournament. However, in the event of his being a part of the Playing XI, it would be the best opportunity for this youngster/veteran to re-establish himself in the international arena.
Given the fact that Dhoni’s replacement in the longer format, Wriddhiman Saha, has not done anything spectacular, selectors could zero on Parthiv to ‘don the gloves’.
Also given the fact Dhoni, having quit the Tests, might even taken an identical decision in the shorter formats also, sooner than later, Parthiv Patel can have ‘lady luck’ smiling on him.
