According to BCCI’s rule, any India-based cricketer who has not announced formal retirement from all forms of the game — domestic and international — isn’t eligible to take part in any overseas T20 league.
Hence, Smit Patel, who was part of India’s 2012 U-19 World Cup triumph, has quit all forms of cricket under BCCI's ambit to chase his American dream.
The retirement will also enable him to participate in the franchise tournaments and his first stint will be with the Barbados Tridents in this year’s Caribbean Premier League.
"It's a new innings for me," Patel told ESPNcricinfo in an exclusive chat. "It's been a different sort of a journey. Starting with the highs of the Under-19 World Cup, then the frustration of not finding a place as a wicketkeeper and then moving four teams within India for opportunities.
"All this is bound to happen when there's stifling competition, so I've got no complaints. I'm blessed to have played for India at a world event - few get that chance. So I'm moving on with happy memories. All my paperwork with the BCCI is complete. I've sent in my retirement letter. So the India chapter of my cricket career is over. If I return, it'll only be to train here for a month or so every year when it's snowing back in the US."
Smit Patel has signed a two-year Major League Cricket (MLC) contract and it is the financial security that gave him the self-belief to pursue a playing career in the USA.
"Yes, having played for 12 years in India, to suddenly pack up and leave can be intimidating," he said. "But since my family was already here and they have set themselves up here, the decision was somewhat easier than just having to turn up here and look out for yourself. I'd been doing that in India for a decade now - living there to just play cricket and come back here during the off-season. I'd spent nine months of lockdown last year here, and I've been back here since April. Also signing up with MLC was a surety that I'm part of a system here."
Patel, a wicket-keeper batsman, last played for Baroda and had also represented Gujarat and Tripura. He featured in 55 first-class games, scoring over 3278 runs at an average of 39.49, including 11 centuries and 14 fifties.
In List A cricket, the 28-year-old has 1234 runs to his name from 43 matches while he has scored 708 runs in 28 T20s.
"No doubt I've moved around teams, but I only did that because I didn't want to stagnate and get opportunities wherever I could," he said. "I didn't get picked in the IPL either, so I had to find ways to keep the wheel turning. I've had good stints at all the team's I've represented. Tripura and Goa were challenging because I was playing for teams wanting to prove themselves."
(Inputs from ESPNcricinfo)
