Parthiv Patel, who got a surprise call-up into the Indian Test team for the forthcoming series against South Africa, was on the flight to Jaipur when MSK Prasad led selection panel named the seventeen-member Test squad on December 3 (Monday).
The 32-year-old got to know about this wonderful news after being landing at the Sanganer International airport in the Pink City. Parthiv is currently playing the Ranji Trophy for Gujarat team, which will take on Bengal in the first quarterfinal at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur from December 7 to 11.
“I am quite happy. It is always a dream to make a comeback, like I did against England (last year),” Parthiv said while speaking to SportStar from the aircraft.
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Patel was a tad unlucky in a way that his earlier days of international career overlapped with the rise of a certain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Nonetheless, his impressive showing in the domestic circuit in addition to some noteworthy performances in the Indian Premier League often brought him into the international scene. In fact, he got the chance to play Test cricket against England last year as a replacement for injured Wriddhiman Saha.
“(It is true that) after that (England series), there was a bit of a waiting game, but I am quite happy with the resilience I have shown (over the months),” added the Gujarat skipper.
“There are certain feelings that are difficult to describe. I am really happy to be back into the squad,” he added.
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Given that Parthiv will be travelling to South Africa as a backup wicketkeeper, he is fully aware of the fact that he will have to wait for his turn to feature in the playing eleven.
“I am not thinking about anything now. I have always been a team-man and I am always ready to play in whichever role the team wants me to be in,” the glovesman said.
As far as Parthiv’s Test career is concerned – the Gujarat batsman has represented India in 23 Tests having made his debut way back in 2002. The left-hander has accumulated 878 Test runs thus far at an average of 33.76 with 6 fifties to his name.
India Test Squad for South Africa Tests:
Virat Kohli(c), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Parthiv Patel, Jasprit Bumrah
