Parthiv Patel throws light on his idea of leaving cricket back in 2008-09

Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel recently bid adieu, to all the forms of cricket. His career spanning around 18 years brought him many glorious moments, and he became the youngest wicketkeeper in Test cricket on his debut. He made his debut in the year 2002 while he was just 17 years old. The 35-year-old drew curtains on his career after plying his trade in 25 Tests, 38 ODIs, and two T20Is.

His last international appearance happened in the Test 2018 in Johannesburg. He was also part of the Test series where India won first time on their soil. However, in the latest turn of events, he revealed that he was very close to leaving the world of cricket in the 2008-09 season. He got ignored by selectors for the New Zealand tour, and he had almost thought to give up on his career.

I felt it was time I thought of something else: Parthiv Patel

“Before the New Zealand tour in 2008-09, I’d scored 800-odd runs in seven Ranji games. I made a hundred in the Duleep Trophy final. I was keeping really well. When I didn’t get picked [for the New Zealand tour], that was the moment where I felt probably [that] I’d never be able to make a comeback.

I felt it was time I thought of something else. But support from my family and GCA [Gujarat Cricket Association] was phenomenal during that phase, and that is the reason why I changed my mindset of building a team here in Gujarat,” said Patel as quoted by ESPNCrininfo.

However, he made a great choice by not leaving the world of cricket back then as he enjoyed a great career after it. If not much in the international arena, he went on to make a huge name in the field of Gujarat cricket. He led Gujarat to its maiden Ranji Trophy title and became the first skipper to have won all the major domestic titles.
It was only after Gujarat’s historic win in Ranji that he received a call from India’s Test team after the gap of eight long years.