Unexpectedly, respected analyst and former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel expressed concern over KL Rahul’s choice to wear wicketkeeping gloves for the next Boxing Day Test against South Africa.
Not one to hold back while expressing his opinions, Patel made no holds barred when he emphasized the need for a specialist wicketkeeper for Test matches.
Parthiv Patel shared his opinions on ‘X’, writing, “India’s test match wicketkeeper should be someone who is keeping regularly in Ranji Trophy or first-class cricket.”
india’s test match wicketkeeper should be someone who is keeping regularly in ranji trophy or first class cricket….#imho #INDvSA #IndianCricket
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) December 24, 2023
But others took notice of Patel’s remarks, and social media soon developed into a forum for criticism. Even during India’s 2018 tour of South Africa, a user brought attention to Patel’s difficulties maintaining wicket, saying, “Achaa but regular keeper aapke jese ho toh? (Suppose the normal wicket keeper has your traits.)
In keeping with his trademark wit, Patel responded to the criticism in a lighthearted manner. “To wo drop ho jata hai,” he wrote, confessing to his previous transgressions.
to wo drop ho jata hai…☺️☺️ https://t.co/WFNnRNARzX
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) December 24, 2023
It’s important to remember that Parthiv Patel filled in for Wriddhiman Saha during India’s 2018 visit to South Africa’s second Test. He received harsh criticism at the time for dropping a catch against Dean Elgar in the second inning.
The argument for specialized wicketkeepers in Test cricket is not new, and Patel’s remarks have fueled the fire. The job of a wicketkeeper becomes critical when considering the game’s dynamics, not just for catches but also for the overall success of the team.
Despite KL Rahul’s outstanding batting performance, Patel’s worries draw attention to one aspect of the game that is sometimes overlooked. In the next Test, it would be interesting to observe how the versatile Rahul will manage his dual roles of wicketkeeping and batting.
India’s second assignment in the current World Test Championship cycle is a series against South Africa, following a resounding rout of the West Indies in August.
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