Gujarat wicketkeeper-batsman Smit Patel has decided to join the Tripura cricket team. Patel, a winner of the Under-19 World Cup title in 2012, signed for the North East side earlier this week. "I have moved to Tripura couple of days ago as a wicketkeeper-batsman," he told Scroll.in. "I start training with the team next week in Agartala." Asked why he was moving, the 23-year-old said it was because of "better opportunities available at Agartala".
However, if one goes through the Gujarat team, the name of Parthiv Patel comes up. The 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman is still going strong and is he the real reason behind Smit Patel's move? "Actually, I wasn’t getting to keep the wickets and I thought this was the right time for me to move out and bag this opportunity to establish myself in the circuit,” said Patel, who last played for Gujarat against Karnataka in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2015. Since his First-Class debut in November 2012, Patel has played only 21 matches.
Patel stressed that the reason for joining Tripura is purely based on growth. “I think it is a nice opportunity to be in a team that is growing. Performing well for the team and getting the team to the top will be huge responsibility,” he said. However, playing for India is his dream and he hopes to put up a stellar show in the domestic circuit this season. “I am just aiming to perform my best in the Ranji Trophy and other tournaments. Anything can happen. I am talented enough to make it to the Indian team but I have to prove it by performance, which i am working hard on.”
Yet to make his Indian Premier league debut, Patel is optimistic about the future. “I want to play everything. I want to be a part of the IPL. Playing in the IPL is important. It gives a player a good platform to showcase his talent and hope to play for India.”
