Indian wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel announced his decision to retire from all forms of cricket.
In a social media post on Wednesday, the Royal Challengers Bangalore star said he is “bringing the curtains down on an 18-year-long cricketing journey”.
Parthiv Patel, 35, made his India debut even before featuring in a Ranji Trophy game. He played his first Test as a 17-year-old against England in Nottingham in 2002 under Sourav Ganguly’s captaincy. thereby becoming the youngest Test wicketkeeper. The baby-faced Gujarat stumper played 25 Test, 38 ODIs and 2 T20Is for India in an 18-year-long career.
Parthiv Patel last played for India during their tour of South Africa in 2018 which was the latest of his many comebacks to the senior national team.
‘I am indebted to Dada’
“Today I announce my retirement from all forms of cricket, and as I bring down the curtains on this 18-year-old cricketing journey, I feel heavier with gratitude towards many. The BCCI showed a generous amount of confidence and faith in a 17-year-old boy to play for India. I have enormous gratitude towards them for being a guiding force and hand holding me, in the formative years of my young career,” Patel wrote in a social media post.
“I am thankful to al the captains I have played under. I am especially indebted to Dada, my first captain, who showed immense faith in me. I feel privileged to have been in the company of and learnt from some stellar teammates, a lot whom I can call friends today. In the same breadth, I must admit players on the opposing team have been as inspiring and taught me well.”
Parthiv Patel, who led Gujarat to their maiden Ranji Trophy title in 2016-17, scored heavily in the domestic circuit, amassing 11,240 runs in 194 first-class matches, 5172 runs in 193 List A matches.
Between 2002 and 2004, Parthiv Patel featured in 19 matches but the wicketkeeper-batsman lost his spot in the side after the emergence of Dinesh Karthik and MS Dhoni. Patel made a comeback in 2008 but it was short-lived as he had to wait for 6 more years to make another appearance. he featured in 3 Tests against England at home before he made his final comeback in 2018 under Virat Kohli’s captaincy.
A journeyman in the IPL – Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel was a successful campaigner in the Indian Premier League. He last represented Royal Challengers Bangalore. Despite not getting a game in IPL 2020, Parthiv was an integral member of the Virat Kohli-led side that made it to the play-offs in the UAE last month.
Parthiv Patel, who has 2848 runs in 139 IPL matches, began his career with Chennai Super Kings. He was part of the title-winning side in 2010 before he made his move to Kochi Tuskers. Parthiv has been part of the now-defunct Deccan Chargers, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad before he was bought in the IPL 2018 auction by Royal Challengers Bangalore.