Parthiv Patel retires from all forms of cricket at 35 after 18-yr career, shares note

The year 2020 came with all the ups and downs and some of the most shattering news in the cricket world. It also saw the retirement of some of the biggest names like MS Dhoni, followed by Suresh Raina. Now, another wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel has decided to join the lot. In the latest turn of events, Patel has decided to bid adieu to all the formats of the game. Parthiv set everyone in sheer amazement when he walked the field of Test cricket while he was just 17 years and 153 days.

Doing so, he became the youngest wicketkeeper in the purest form of the game. He marked his ODI debut against New Zealand in 2003. Though he was selected in India’s squad for the 2003 World Cup, he didn’t get to feature in any of the games as Rahul Dravid played as a makeshift wicketkeeper. It was due to the emergence of legendary MS Dhoni in the form of wicketkeeper that the young man was sidelined from the international arena.

Though he couldn’t get many chances in his interrupted career, he made sure to make his mark in the matches he got the chance. During the 2011 West Indies tour, MS Dhoni was rested along with some senior players, and Parthiv kept wickets for India. It was also in 2016 when he rose to a bit of limelight as he proved the selectors’ decision correct. He replaced injured Wriddhiman Saha in the third Test in Mohali. His two great innings including an unbeaten knock of 67 runs took team over the line.

He played 25 Tests for India with 934 runs in his bag and 62 catches on his name. In the ODI format, he played 38 games to amass 736 runs and 30 catches. He played just two T20Is with India. His first-class career and stats speak volumes about his capacities in the game. He has 10,797 runs in 187 FC matches he played at an impressive average of 43.36.

He led the Gujarat team in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy, and the team made it to the finals. In the finals, the team met Mumbai, and his outstanding performance, including 143 in the second innings led Gujarat clinch the maiden Ranji title. This victory made Gujarat the first team and Patel the first skipper to have all the three major domestic titles under his belt. He also plied his trade for various IPL franchises starting from Chennai Super Kings in the inaugural edition.

He led Kochi Tuskers Kerala in the 2011 season of IPL.