Parthiv Patel has been attracting all the eyeballs on the cricket field with his scintillating batting and one of the selectors has even hinted that he could be picked as a specialist batsman.
The 22-year-old is undoubtedly pleased but at the very first opportunity points out that his wicketkeeping has also been at its best.
"Everyone speaks of the five hundreds but no one mentions that I am doing very well behind the stumps," he reacted when congratulated for his fine batting form. "I have been working a lot on my wicketkeeping."
Patel, who made his India debut as a 17-year-old, was not consistent behind the stumps and that was the primary reason behind Dinesh Karthik replacing him for the last Test against Australia in the 2003-04 season with experts even questioning his technique.
But the southpaw, who is leading India Green in the Challenger series here, does not buy the argument. "There is nothing wrong with my technique. I am just working hard on improving my concentration and fine tuning the basics."
Despite scoring five hundreds on a trot, Patel knows that getting back into the team as a wicketkeeper is tough given the standards set by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Despite scoring five hundreds on a trot, Patel knows that getting back into the team as a wicketkeeper is tough given the standards set by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
"Earlier a wicketkeeper was expected to score 30-40 runs. Dhoni has changed everything with his explosive batting."
"But age is on my side. I don't need to panic but just keep on performing and wait for my chance," said Patel while signing off.