Time for boy wonder to shed kid’s gloves

His CV as a junior said it all – captain of U-15 India team for Asia Cup and then, at 17, of the U-19 World Cup squad. But Patel’s big break came earlier this year when the West Zone selectors sat to pick the team for the Deodhar Trophy. Among the list of probables were the names of two veteran keepers Nayan Mongia and Sameer Dighe. But after an acrimonous debate, it is said, former Indian skipper Dilip Vengsarkar put his foot down, and kicked out the names of Mongia and Dighe and Parthiv’s name got a tick.

The next big thing was the tour with the India A team. The highlight was his match-winning 71 against Sri Lanka. But the thing that brought out his character was the tour to South Africa.

The Indian team had a series of bad starts but in one of the matches, when the need of the hour was to score fast, coach Yashpal Sharma asked Parthiv to open the innings.

Without any dilly-dallying, the youngster accepted the challenge (there aren’t many in the senior side who have shown such attitude) and hit a quickfire 32 against the likes of international pacer Andrew Nel.

Back home this was the period when the national selectors were answering embarrassing questions about a certain Deep Dasgupta, whose stint behind the stump was getting nightmarish. And at this juncture, Parthiv got the nod for the national side.

Giving a break to this young keeper has triggered two school of thoughts on the issue. Former Test wicket-keeper Syed Kirmani was of the view that an early Test cap can ruin a young career. ‘‘Wicket-keeping in Test means immense pressure. Everybody is not a Sachin Tendulkar, chances are he may crack under pressure at the international level,’’ warns Kiri.

But the list of “catch them young” promoters are many. Ravi Shastri, Kiran More, Anshuman Gaekwad all are of the view that “throw a youngster at the deep end and he will learn to swim.’’

The jury is on that, and the coming days will prove whether he is a “make” or “break” keeper.

Saurav Ganguly has for long dwelt upon the need for a wicket-keeper batsman in the mould of Adam Gilchrist.

But besides the fact that Parthiv Patel is an attacking left-handed batsmen, has opened the innings at the international level and also trained at the Australian Cricket Academy, expecting him to match the Aussie vice-captain would be foolhardy.

Maybe there is another keeper on the international scene with whom there could be a more realistic comparision – 18-year-old Tatenda Taibu of Zimbabwe. Till then, wait and watch.