Parthiv Patel likely to be a key player in the tournament : The diminutive Gujarat wicket-keeper- batsman, who got the nod of the BCCI’s wise men for the Asia Cup 2016, played in Bangladesh, albeit as a ‘back-up’ for the Indian skipper, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, did not get to play any game.
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 2015-16, Patel has accumulated 452 runs in 12 innings and remained unbeaten on 2 occasions. He had averaged 45.20 with 2 centuries and 2 half centuries, with his highest individual score being 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.
Having featured in 97 games in the IPL circuit over a period of 8 seasons, Parthiv has scored 1,750 runs at an average of 21.60 with 61 as his personal best. He has been scoring at a strike rate of 113.93 in this period.
The 2015 season has been very fruitful for him as he notched up 339 runs from 14 games (unbeaten once) at an average of 26.08 and a 137.8 strike rate.
Parthiv is one player who needs to be followed and watched out in IPL 2016. Hope he would perform well and reach new heights.
