Parthiv Patel hilariously trolls himself after fan highlights his poor wicketkeeping in South Africa

In a surprising turn of events, former Indian wicketkeeper-batter and renowned expert, Parthiv Patel has raised eyebrows over KL Rahul’s decision to don the wicketkeeping gloves in the upcoming Boxing Day Test against South Africa.

Patel, known for his outspoken views, didn’t mince words as he highlighted the significance of having a specialised wicketkeeper for Test matches. 

“India’s test match wicketkeeper should be someone who is keeping regularly in Ranji Trophy or first-class cricket,” Parthiv wrote on ‘X’ sharing his views.

However, this statement from Patel didn’t go unnoticed, and social media quickly became a platform for criticism. One user even pointed out Patel’s struggles with wicketkeeping during India’s tour of South Africa in 2018 and commented “Achaa but regular keeper aapke jese ho toh ? (what if the regular wicket keeper is like you.)

Responding to the critique, Patel, in his characteristic humour, took a light-hearted approach. “To wo drop ho jata hai…” he wrote, acknowledging his past shortcomings.

It’s worth recalling that Parthiv Patel stepped in for the injured Wriddhiman Saha during the second Test of India’s tour of South Africa in 2018. His dropped catch of Dean Elgar in the second innings drew severe criticism at the time.

The debate around specialist wicketkeepers in Test cricket is not a new one, and Patel’s comments have added fuel to the ongoing discussions. As we all think about the dynamics of the game, the role of a wicketkeeper becomes crucial, not just for catches but also for the team’s overall performance.

While KL Rahul has been impressive with the bat, Patel’s concerns highlight the part of the game that often goes unnoticed. It remains to be seen how Rahul, known for his versatility, will handle the dual responsibilities of batting and wicketkeeping in the upcoming Test.

The series against South Africa marks India’s second assignment in the new World Test Championship cycle after a convincing whitewash against West Indies in August.