This Indian team believes in winning: Parthiv

Ahmedabad: Dismissing speculations that India might look for a draw in the fourth and final Test against England here, former India wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel, who announced his retirement from all forms of the game recently, said he was confident that this Indian team would never go in with the mindset of playing for a draw. Even a draw in the final Test starting on Thursday will see the Indian team through to the World Test Championship finals at Lord's.

“

This Indian team believes in winning Test matches

,’’ said the 35-year-old, in an exclusive interview with TOI.

Parthiv, the former Gujarat Ranji captain, also heaped praise on Axar Patel and Jasprit Bumrah, both of whom prospered under his leadership during his Ranji days. Parthiv has undoubtedly been the best skipper as far as Gujarat is concerned (Winning the Ranji trophy, Vijay Hazare and Mushtaq Ali trophy).

“Axar has the accuracy much like Anil Kumble who used to bowl stump to stump. Axar can build pressure and deceive the batsmen with his flight. That’s a brilliant quality and he can therefore do well even on pitches which are not turners. Jasprit is a prime example of working hard at the nets and the results are showing,’’ said Parthiv, who earned his Test cap at the age of 17 against England at Nottingham in 2002.

On who should come in place of the the speedster from Ahmedabad, Parthiv was prompt in saying that it should be none other than Umesh Yadav.

"Umesh bowled well in the pink-ball Test at Adelaide last year before he got injured. Also he has been a brilliant performer in the last few years at home. Thus just like Ishant Sharma got a chance ahead of Mohammed Siraj, I would like to see Umesh getting the opportunity this time,'' said Parthiv, who represented India in 25 Tests, 38 ODIs and 2 T20Is.

The former India wicketkeeper had no hesitation regarding the abilities of Rishab Pant.

“Without doubt Pant will play this Test also. The way he batted in Australia and the way he kept wickets at Chennai and in the third Test here, Pant showed tremendous improvement in his wicketkeeping,''.

However, Parthiv feels that dashing wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan has deservedly got a chance in the Indian squad for the T20Is.

"Whoever gets the opportunity and makes use of the same will play for India for a long time,'' said Parthiv .