Virender Sehwag feels Parthiv Patel's experience could have been a reason for his selection ahead of Rishabh Pant
Earlier this year, Yuvraj Singh was recalled into the Indian T20 side, on the back fo some impressive performances in the shortest format of the game on the domestic circuit. It was an indication to the rest as well that courtesy some consistent showing in First Class cricket one could forge his way back into the side and age was merely a number.
Among the group of cricketers, who made his debut around the same as Yuvraj during the early 2000’s was Parthiv Patel, who made the cut as a 17-year-old during India’s 2002 tour to England where he made his Test debut against England in Nottingham.
After having featured regularly for two years, Patel was dropped from the Test team in 2004, owing to some poor glovework and that meant others like Dinesh Karthik MS Dhoni moved ahead of him in the order.
However, in August 2008, with Dhoni having opted for some rest from India’s tour to Sri Lanka, Karthik and Patel were both picked and after the former had failed to rise up to expectations, the latter was given a chance to don the whites after four long years.
However, Patel remained in the Indian set-up in coloured clothing, featuring in 2011 tour to England as an opener, but a Test recall continued to elude him.
On Wednesday, however, the wait for that ended. With Wriddhiman Saha sustaining an injury, Patel was recalled to the Test setup and if nothing goes awry, then he is sure to feature in his first Test in 8 years in the third Test against England in Mohali.
Speaking about his comeback to the Indian setup, former India opener Virender Sehwag has said that like Parthiv, the rest should keep plugging away in domestic cricket and always remain optimistic about playing at the highest level.
“I believe one should never give up. One should work hard and stay focused in order to taste success, just like Parthiv,” he said.
With Saha injured, India had the option of going for the exuberance of Rishabh Pant, who has been in sensational form in the Ranji Trophy, but Patel was given the nod,instead.
Sehwag admitted that he was not fully aware about Patel’s call up and added perhaps his experience pipped him ahead of a Pant in the pecking order.
“I wasn’t aware Parthiv got a call-up. Even in the last game, Saha kept wickets and I don’t know how a player can get injured while travelling. There was talk that a young keeper might be brought in, but perhaps (Anil) Kumble and (Virat) Kohli wanted to go with experience, which Parthiv has in abundance,” he said.