Parthiv Patel

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Having lost a finger at the age of 6, he initially found it hard to keep wickets, but after enough practice, he got used to it. When Patel played for the Indian team in 2002, he became the youngest wicket-keeper to represent a country in Tests. He was a part of the Indian squad which won the 2016 Asia Cup. In December 2020, Patel announced his retirement from all forms of cricket. After his retirement, Patel joined Mumbai Indians as a Talent Scout. He is also now seen as a commentator in the Indian Premier League and International Matches too. In November 2024, Patel was appointed as the assistant and batting coach of Gujarat Titans for the upcoming season of the Indian Premier League.

In Their Own Story

Axar Patel made his Test debut for India against England on 13 February 2021, taking his first international Test wicket of Joe Root. In the same match, he took a five-wicket haul in England's second innings, becoming the ninth Indian bowler to do so on debut. In the 3 matches he played in his debut series, he took 27 wickets at an average of 10.59, finishing as the second-highest wicket taker of the series. Later in the year, he scored his maiden Test half-century against New Zealand. In the 2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, he played a crucial role throughout the tournament. In India's first match against Ireland, he took 1 wicket off his one over. Against Pakistan, he took 1 wicket and made 20 runs off 18 balls. In the semi-final against England, he was named Player of the Match, making 10 runs and taking 3 wickets. In the final against South Africa, he was crucial, taking a wicket at an economy rate of 12.33 and making a quickfire 47 off 31 balls with 4 sixes and 1 four. In July 2025, against England he took his 100th T20I wicket and became the first Indian spinner to achieve this record in T20Is.

Reader's Guide

Patel led the Gujarat team in the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy. Beating Odisha and Jharkhand in the quarterfinal and semifinal, the team reached the final for only the second time. In the final in January, they met defending champions Mumbai in Indore. Patel scored 90 in the first inning and 143 in the second and helped beat Mumbai to win its first Trophy. Patel's 143 was the highest in a successful chase in a Ranji Trophy final. The win also made Gujarat the first team and Patel the first captain to have won all three major titles in domestic cricket in India. In July 2018, he was named as the captain for India Green for the 2018–19 Duleep Trophy. In October 2019, he was named as the captain of India B for the 2019–20 Deodhar Trophy. In the Indian Premier League, Patel was auctioned in the inaugural IPL to Chennai Super Kings. He used to be a regular in the team and opened with the former Australian opener Matthew Hayden. He did not keep wicket as the Indian wicketkeeper and captain, MS Dhoni, was in the team. For the fourth season, he was signed by Kochi Tuskers Kerala. On 16 May, it was announced that Parthiv will be leading the Kochi Tuskers Kerala for the rest of the 2011 Indian Premier League. As a result of the termination of Kochi Tuskers franchise, Parthiv, along with the other players from the franchise, was once again auctioned for the 2012 Indian Premier League season. He was picked by Deccan Chargers for $1m. During the 2012 IPL Trading Window, Parthiv was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2013 and by Royal Challenger Bangalore in 2014. Patel was signed by Mumbai Indians for the 2015 IPL as an opening batsmen. In January 2018, he was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the 2018 IPL auction. In 2022, Gujarat Giants selected him in the Legends League Cricket and gave him the captaincy in the 2023 Legends League Cricket season.

Did You Know?

• Parthiv Patel debuted in Test cricket in 2002 against England at Trent Bridge at 17 years and 153 days, becoming Test cricket's youngest wicketkeeper.
• He played his first Test in eight years in November 2016, having missed 83 Test matches between appearances.
• Patel made his ODI debut against New Zealand in January 2003 and was selected in the Indian squad for the 2003 Cricket World Cup but did not play any games.
• He made his T20I debut in the tour of West Indies 2011, opening the batting with Shikhar Dhawan.
• Parthiv Patel, along with Robin Singh and Rohan Gavaskar, played their first T20 match in 2005.