Parthiv Ajay Patel was born on 9 March 1985 in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, into a supportive, middle-class family. His father, Ajay, encouraged his cricketing passion from an early age . Despite losing a finger at age nine, Patel persevered and adopted wicket‑keeping techniques to compensate. Starting with tape‑ball cricket, he joined local academies and made rapid progress through Gujarat’s youth system—leading the U‑17 Asia Cup and India’s U‑19 team—before stepping into first‑class cricket at around 15 years old.
At 5 ft 3 in, Patel possessed a compact frame complemented by fierce determination and self-belief—qualities he credits with sustaining his nearly two‑decade career. Known for disciplined training, guided by examples like Adam Gilchrist, he brought composure and sharp glovework to the field. Patel’s lifestyle has always balanced focus and humility: he’s described as mentally resilient, eager to seize chances, and consistently ready for comebacks .
Patel married Avni in 2008; the couple has one daughter. He is close with his family—particularly his father and sister Kinjal—who have remained his constant support. While maintaining privacy, he occasionally shares family moments on social media. Patel balances cricket commitments with family time and has been actively involved in coaching and commentary since retiring.
Patel debuted in first‑class cricket for Gujarat in 2000–01. He quickly gained attention, becoming the only Indian to score centuries in five consecutive first‑class games. In the Ranji Trophy, he was instrumental: in 2016–17, as captain, he led Gujarat to their first-ever title—scoring 90 and 143 in the final. Under his leadership, Gujarat became the first team to win all three major domestic trophies. He also served as captain in Duleep and Deodhar Trophies.
Patel burst onto the India international scene at 17 years and 153 days during the 2002 England tour, becoming the youngest wicket‑keeper in Test history. He featured in 25 Tests, scoring 934 runs (avg 31.13) with six fifties; secured 62 catches and 10 stumpings. In ODIs, he played 38 matches, gained 736 runs (avg 23.74) with four fifties and a best of 95 . He also appeared in two T20Is in 2011.
After being sidelined by MS Dhoni, Patel earned a comeback in Tests during the 2016 series vs England and played his last Tests in 2018 Vs South Africa. His international career total: 65 Tests/ODIs/T20I matches, 1696 runs and 93 international dismissals .
Combined Career Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | 50s | 100s | Catches/Stumpings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 25 | 934 | 31.13 | 6 | 0 | 62/10 |
| ODIs | 38 | 736 | 23.74 | 4 | 0 | – |
Patel was a six‑time IPL player: CSK, Kochi, Deccan, Sunrisers, RCB, and Mumbai Indians. He joined Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2015 season, playing top‑order & scoring 339 runs at a strike rate of 138; MI won the championship. In 2017, he made 395 runs, leading MI’s run‑chart en route to their third IPL title . He played 139 IPL matches, hitting 13 half‑centuries. Before retiring, he was with RCB but did not play in IPL 2020.
Standing at 5’3″, Patel’s stature didn’t hinder his athleticism. Despite early setbacks—like losing a finger—he honed his glovework through disciplined practice. After being out of the international fold for eight years, he made a successful comeback in 2016, citing self-belief and readiness . His resilience was on display throughout his domestic and IPL comebacks, including praise for maintaining fitness and mental strength during long breaks .
On 9 December 2020, Patel announced retirement from all cricket formats, reflecting on an 18‑year career with gratitude. That same month, he joined Mumbai Indians as a talent scout. He transitioned into IPL commentary and, in November 2024, became assistant & batting coach of Gujarat Titans.
