“Want to be known as the one who was ready to put his hand up for the team,” says Parthiv Patel post retirement announcement

“Want to be known as the one who was ready to put his hand up for the team,” says Parthiv Patel post retirement announcement

Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel

Indian cricketer Parthiv Patel announced his retirement from all forms of cricket today at the age of 35. The wicket-keeper batsman who made his debut for the national team at just 17 years of age went on to play just 25 Tests, 38 ODIs and 2 T20Is for his country. He was perhaps unlucky to be born in the same era as one of India’s greatest wicket-keeper batsmen MS Dhoni.

In first-class cricket, Parthiv represented Gujarat and in 194 matches, scored a whopping 11,240 runs at an average of 43, a tally which included 27 hundreds and 62 fifties. In a career spanning 18 years, Parthiv’s will be remember as one which did not reach the immense potential it had.

‘My family was in tears’ – Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel

Speaking about his retirement, Parthiv Patel was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times, “My family was in tears, but I was quite ok. I am very happy with where I am, as I end my career. There is no feeling that I could have achieved this or that. As I walked out of the field, the two teams gave me a guard of honor, which was never intended to be. I still have that picture in my house.”

When asked as to how he wanted to be remembered, “I could show that I was someone who was always ready to put his hand up when the team needed it. That’s how I always wanted to be known,” Patel said.

Parthiv Patel is also believed to have recommended Jasprit Bumrah to then Mumbai Indians’ coach John Wright and on being quizzed about the same, “I wouldn’t like to take any credit for it, but I am quite proud that someone from my state team which I was leading went on to be the no.1 bowler,” he said.

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