India should give wicketkeepers a more consistent run: Parthiv Patel

Parthiv Patel, the discarded Indian cricketer, reckons that there’s no dearth of talent in the country as far as wicketkeeping is concerned. In the early 2000s, India had the conundrum before MS Dhoni came to the fore. However, with the veteran at the twilight of his glorious career, India are again faced with the dilemma of making the apt choice as the gloveman.

Dhoni last played in the 2019 World Cup and since then, India have given Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson chances. But for the time being, it’s KL Rahul, who is shouldering the mantle behind the stumps in limited-overs cricket. In Test cricket, Wriddhiman Saha has been India’s man.

Everyone has it in them: Parthiv Patel

However, even he is into his mid-30s and India need to find the proper replacement going ahead into the future. The 35-year-old Parthiv feels that keepers in India should be given a longer rope to prove their worth at the highest level.

“I don’t think we are not getting any fixed wicketkeeper. We have KS Bharat for India A … Rishabh Pant or KL Rahul … Saha is your number 1 Test wicketkeeper. But I genuinely feel we can get a bit more consistency so that you have the assurance. Everyone has it in them … It’s about getting a bit more consistent run,” Parthiv told during an Instagram chat, reported by My Khel.

Parthiv, who last played for India in the 2018 tour of South Africa, said that in modern day cricket, a keeper needs to know the art of scoring runs. As per him, it gives a team the privilege of playing five specialist bowlers in a Test.

“There has been an evolution totally. People want your wicketkeeper to score runs. You can then play with five bowlers in a Test. You will have more chances of getting 20 wickets,” he stated.

Moreover, Parthiv, who won Gujarat the Ranji Trophy in 2016, said that one needs to strike the right balance between keeping and batting.

“When I was on the Australia tour (in 2018), (MSK) Prasad was chairman, I had told him that when a wicketkeeper comes to team it’s only because of his runs he scored but when he is dropped it’s because of poor keeping. You have to strike the right balance. You have to keep that mindset,” he added.