Is Parthiv the problem or the solution? News Archive News

Barring a radical change in thought by the selectors, it8217;s reasonably certain that Rahul Dravid will be keeping wickets in the coming o...

Written by Sandeep Dwivedi

October 22, 2003 12:00 AM IST

4 min read

Barring a radical change in thought by the selectors, it8217;s reasonably certain that Rahul Dravid will be keeping wickets in the coming one-day series. Though the official reason 8212; as one selector put it 8212; is that the team 8216;8216;urgently needs a win, this is no time to experiment8217;8217;, it is clear that Parthiv Patel has done himself no favours with probably his worst-ever Test performance at Mohali.

Some of his bloomers:

8226; Fails to collect a simple return throw from Rahul Dravid to run out Lou Vincent8217;s runner Paul Wiseman. Basic Error No. 1: Turns to look where Wiseman is at the time of collecting. Vincent goes on to make 106 runs

8226; Fails to collect a snick from Craig McMillan8217;s bat off Harbhajan. The all-rounder hits unbeaten ton before Kiwi declaration

8226; Drops Styris off Tendulkar when on 118. He added another run

8226; 21 byes in a total of 53 extras in the New Zealand total. Basic Error No. 2: Allows too many balls through his pads

It could be a run of bad days at the office. It could, as Geoffrey Boycott has said, be sheer lack of experience. Whatever the reason, the fallout was predictable: Parthiv was included in the team for the one-day series.

That he probably won8217;t get to play is another issue. The point made by his critics is that he8217;s keeping out his challengers Deep Dasgupta, Ajay Ratra and Vijay Dahiya 8212; and not entirely on merit.

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Parthiv just had a match to forget. If he can do that, it would be fine. He8217;s young and needs confidence, the backing of selectors and people around him. He probably already has it, which is why he8217;s been picked for the one-dayers. Like Syed Kirmani and Kiran More, I also believe that wicketkeeping is still of great importance in the one-day game. They think they8217;ve picked the best 8217;keeper in India.

Parthiv has got the qualities which make a really good wicketkeeper. He is good on his feet and got a safe pair of hands. He just lacks in confidence. When things started to go wrong at the start of Test match at Mohali, he wasn8217;t able, due to lack of experience, to dig deep and recall the good days.

Dravid is good for the team8217;s balance, which is why he8217;s picked. But that would have affected his batting, so you got to weigh that up. To win an ODI, one needs to take wickets; runs are important but as long as you are taking wickets, the other side will struggle to chase the total. So it means taking no chances and having someone behind the stumps who is a pretty good specialist in that role. Dravid is just a batsman who keeps a bit. When you see him in the morning, preparing for the day8217;s play, you don8217;t often see him practising wicketkeeping skills.

I am sure Parthiv is good enough to put this behind him and move ahead. You always have to look at the future. Parthiv is more of the future behind the stumps for India in either form of the game than Dravid. And I think Dravid will be the first one to admit it.
As told to Ateet Sharma

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More

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