Honest, grounded and extremely cordial — that’s our man of the moment Parthiv Patel for you. The batsman and wicketkeeper won the hearts of Bengalureans, thanks to his phenomenal last ball run-out which ensured a thrilling victory for our team over CSK. Parthiv who also made a crucial knock of 53 from 37 balls and was rightly declared man of the match in the nail-biting RCB-CSK game. In a casual chat with DC on a rainy afternoon in the city, RCB’s pocket rocket gets candid about the match and more….
Ask him how he felt after that much-coveted victory over CSK and he replies, “The feeling is great. As a player, you wait for something like this to come to you. Throughout the tournament, I was getting stats, but not big scores, so I wanted to give a man of the match performance.
The last run-out is something I will remember for the rest of my life. It was the biggest night for me in terms of the response and adulation I’ve got. I guess the day was just made for me!”
With Dale Steyn having joined our line-up, how has it boosted the morale of the squad? “The fact that we were hardly getting any wickets during the powerplay was a concern for us till Steyn arrived. So, it’s great to have his experience and quality. It will certainly help younger players and the team,” he says.
What’s commendable about Parthiv is that he’s been consistently performing despite his father being extremely unwell. How does he manage to keep himself calm under situations of pressure? “Preparation is key. I try and prepare well before the game, so I don’t have to worry about the results. This is something I’ve done every year,” says the RCB opener, who’s known for his modesty.
Having been a regular visitor to namooru since his U-16 days, Parthiv states that Bengaluru feels like his second home. “I’ve roamed around on MG and Brigade Road - I love the vibe, weather, ground and facilities provided here. Hats off to RCB’s loyal fans who come in and keep supporting us,” he says.
