FREE HIT - An IPL 2020 talk show with Boria Majumdar: Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel - video Dailymotion

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In this episode of 'Free Hit', a series of exclusive video interviews with players, officials and TV pundits from the Indian Premier League, Boria Majumdar chats with Royal Challengers Bangalore wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel  See more videos at https://gulfnews.com/videos Read more Gulf News stories here: https://bit.ly/2HLJ2km  #IPL2020 #IPL #ParthivPatel

Transcript

00:00Parthiv, coming to your own game, how is that shooting?

00:02How are you?

00:02How are you feeling?

00:03I mean, six buns you've not played.

00:05But when it actually hit bat on ball, how was that?

00:07Tell me about that.

00:09Tell me about that.

00:10Tell me about that.

00:11Tell me about that.

00:14Hello, and welcome to this very special edition of Free Hits,

00:16today with a very dear friend of mine.

00:18Somebody who I've covered, I mean, from his first tour.

00:21I was then a student, I've got to say this.

00:23He and I are almost one.

00:25He's 10 years or so younger, but we've

00:28had similar trajectories in terms

00:30of our professional careers.

00:31When I was finishing my PhD, he entered the Indian team.

00:34Then I practically covered him all his career.

00:36I mean, he's still a very young man,

00:39and you tend to think he's already, what,

00:40one and a half decades old in international cricket

00:42and for Indian cricket.

00:44Welcome, Parthiv Patel.

00:45If anything one needs to learn from you, it's resilience.

00:49It's the commitment.

00:50It's the determination.

00:51And believe you me, that's something I really,

00:54really celebrate in you.

00:56So well done, and at these times,

00:58these are kind of qualities which

01:00will put us all in great stead.

01:01But good to see you, Parthiv.

01:03How is this season shaping up?

01:05Thank you for this warm welcome.

01:07I don't know whether I'm worthy enough of deserving this,

01:10but thank you once again.

01:13Talking about the season, it's been very good here so far.

01:16We've had a very good camp.

01:19RCB has done really well to make sure

01:21that we are in a secure, viable, and in a happy place as well.

01:26At this point of time, there is only one thing.

01:28You talked about resilience.

01:29You talked about the smile and all of that.

01:33That's something which we've faced

01:35throughout these seven, eight months.

01:37And just to be happy to be on the ground

01:40and knowing that by just playing cricket,

01:44we will be able to provide a smile to the face of the world.

01:48That's the point, Parthiv, isn't it?

01:50I mean, the IPL is not simply about Virat or MS or anyone.

01:54It is about the optimism and the positivity

01:57that it will bring for a billion people.

01:59It is about you and me.

02:01It is about the players.

02:03It is about my profession as well,

02:04or the groundsmen or the trainers

02:06or the technical staff or the broadcaster.

02:09The whole cricket industry depends on this tournament.

02:12So in that sense, it's great that the tournament is happening,

02:15isn't it?

02:15Absolutely.

02:16I think it's great for all of us, especially

02:19the domestic players, ground staff,

02:22and as you spoke about, the amount of work

02:25that's been put in behind the scenes is unbelievable.

02:28As you rightly and correctly put,

02:30that IPL is a very, very big platform

02:35and a very big place from where a lot of people

02:38can earn their money.

02:39And I'm sure BCCI has done a great job in just making sure

02:44that we conduct a tournament.

02:45For me, the fact that this is happening,

02:47we were talking about numbers in India.

02:50We love our numbers.

02:51But we only talk about recoveries and cases

02:53and deaths, unfortunately, for the last six months.

02:55For God's sake, we want asking rates.

02:57We want sixes by Parthiv Patel.

02:59We want catches taken.

03:00We want wickets taken.

03:01We really want our sense of normalcy back,

03:04at least the new normal.

03:05Not everything is bad, for God's sake.

03:06So in that sense, I can't wait for this tournament.

03:09What's the kind of mood you are getting in the UAE, Parthiv?

03:13Within your team, is everyone excited?

03:15Are people still apprehensive?

03:16What it's like?

03:17There is not a single percent of apprehension

03:21in our team at all.

03:22As I said, the vibe is brilliant.

03:24You know, the way we've been taken care of.

03:26We feel extremely secure here in the UAE

03:30because the kind of bubble has been created.

03:32You spoke about numbers and all of that.

03:34Yes, you know, the kind of pandemic we all are going through,

03:37it's not going to get over soon.

03:40But, you know, it is very important that,

03:43you know, through playing cricket,

03:44if we could provide that message of staying safe,

03:48making sure that, you know, social distancing

03:51and then sanitization and all of that is so important.

03:53It's in our hand, you know,

03:55that we got to make sure that, you know,

03:57we take right steps so that if we say that

04:00asking rate or a required rate comes down

04:02and then, you know, in numbers,

04:05if you want to just relate to cricket thing,

04:07the required run rate comes down.

04:09In that case, the COVID positive cases come down.

04:13In fact, Parthiv Patel, just to put it on record,

04:16walked into this interview wearing his mask.

04:18So that's how important it is for him.

04:21He's making a statement at every step.

04:23That's why he's important for you and me, ladies and gentlemen.

04:26He walked in with his mask.

04:27He's kept it by his side.

04:29That bio bubble is almost like a fortress.

04:32You can't reach it.

04:33Parthiv, your team has made an interesting,

04:35very interesting campaign and statement

04:37about supporting COVID heroes.

04:39Your thoughts on that?

04:39I'm very honored to be, you know, part of this campaign.

04:43I feel blessed that I'm playing for a side which has,

04:46you know, take up this campaign,

04:48my COVID heroes.

04:49It's unbelievable, you know,

04:51that I've had a first-hand experience at my home.

04:54My dad's been in a coma for one and a half years

04:58and we have help at home for him.

05:00And his wife was pregnant

05:04and she was going to give birth,

05:07but he didn't go because he thought that if he leaves the house

05:10and someone else comes in,

05:11so we don't know whether he'll have that infection or not.

05:14And he cannot take that chance with my dad being not well.

05:18And unfortunately, his child actually passed away in two days.

05:23He couldn't even see them,

05:24but he was so committed to job that, you know,

05:27that's something that's changed my life.

05:29I asked him, you know,

05:31what do you, or why are you doing this?

05:34And he was like, it's all karma with God's grace.

05:38I will get another child,

05:39but here I'm committed to this job

05:41and I have to make sure that I do it.

05:42And even while I was leaving house

05:44and he said only one thing,

05:46you don't, sir, you don't worry about anything.

05:48You just go out there and play.

05:50I will take care of your dad.

05:52And then, you know, these are the heroes,

05:53you know, we should worship.

05:55I think, you know,

05:56these are the people who sacrifice their own life

05:59and that's something is very admirable.

06:01It's an unbelievable story.

06:03I mean, my heart goes out to that person

06:06and to every person who has fought like this

06:10with his or her life.

06:11Parthiv, coming to your own game,

06:12how's that shaping up?

06:13How are you, how are you feeling?

06:14I mean, six months you've not played,

06:16but when it actually hit bat on ball,

06:18how was that?

06:19Tell me about, tell me about that.

06:20It was brilliant.

06:21You know, I actually,

06:23if I tell you,

06:24bat, I liked wicket keeping more,

06:25you know, for me,

06:27not catching the ball for six months.

06:29And as soon as I started with hard ball,

06:31I actually feel the difference that,

06:33you know, the hands are not softer.

06:35You know, I have to start catching with tennis ball

06:38and then gradually go into the hard ball.

06:40And that sound of hitting the ball,

06:42ball to bat is unbelievable.

06:43That sweet sound, what do you get?

06:45And, you know, we used to,

06:46I used to get dream of those things,

06:48you know, when will I be able to play cricket again?

06:51Or when will I, you know,

06:52wear all these pads and everything.

06:54And one of these, one of those days,

06:56I actually thought of wearing all my kit

06:58and, you know, going around in the house

07:00just to feel comfortable,

07:02whether I'll be comfortable again

07:03wearing pads and helmet and all.

07:05We all like doing what we do.

07:07We love playing cricket.

07:08And that's something which was missing

07:10in six, seven months.

07:11And I'm glad to be back on the field

07:13and glad to be, you know, in the shape I am.

07:15Overall, about team balance,

07:17Parthiv looks a better side to me,

07:18especially at the inclusion of Adam Zandpaar,

07:21conditions like this,

07:22the kind of form he's in

07:23in that England-Australia series.

07:25And your batting depth now,

07:28obviously, sort of overall,

07:29I think this is one of the better,

07:31if not the best RCD side

07:32in the last few years, Parth?

07:34To me, I think that's a great, great,

07:36a great side.

07:37I think, you know, if you look at the options,

07:39there aren't only 11.

07:41We've got options, we've got replacements,

07:42we've got all-rounders in numbers

07:44in Washington, Shivam Dubey,

07:46Chris Morris, Shabazz from Calcutta.

07:48And then there's someone, I think,

07:50a very exciting talent, Dev Dutt's there.

07:52You know, he's done really well

07:54in domestic cricket.

07:56And the great inclusion of Zandpaar,

07:57understanding the situation.

07:58So I feel, I personally feel that,

08:00you know, there is going to be

08:01a very good season for us.

08:03Not only the personals we have,

08:04but the kind of atmosphere we are in.

08:06Everyone's so happy.

08:07You know, when you walk around in the hotel

08:09or when we go in the bus,

08:11there's everyone smiling.

08:12There's always positive energy

08:13flowing around in the dressing room

08:15and on the ground.

08:16Right from Virat to the last man

08:20who's there, the help we get.

08:22It's great, great energy.

08:23And your captain, obviously,

08:24is going into a new phase of his life.

08:26This will mean much

08:27if he wins this tournament.

08:28I mean, as a tournament,

08:30he'll celebrate his birthday

08:31on 5th November, would be father.

08:33In every sense, the world's coming together

08:35for Virat Kohli.

08:36I've never seen him so relaxed.

08:37You know, he's so relaxed.

08:39He's so, so he's enjoying his game.

08:41You know, just talking to him

08:43off the field or on the field,

08:44he's into it.

08:45And, you know, I love the way,

08:48obviously, he inspires a lot of people

08:50around in the team and in the world.

08:52But the way he's been moving around

08:54is so relaxed and is quite

08:56looking forward to the tournament.

08:58People keep talking about this,

08:59that with such a great side,

09:01you've not won it, you've not won it.

09:02Does it play at all

09:04on the minds of players

09:05or it's a new season?

09:06Forget what's happened.

09:08We will give it our best.

09:09Results not often in our hands,

09:10but in terms of preparation,

09:12we've done our best.

09:13That's the mindset which

09:14everybody should have.

09:16And we have that.

09:17You can't carry the baggage

09:19of last 12 IPLs or last year.

09:22You know, it's something

09:23never going to help us.

09:24So that's something

09:24we are not thinking of at all.

09:26What we will be doing is,

09:27you know, we can just be prepared

09:29for this new season.

09:31It is in our hand.

09:32You know, try and make sure

09:33that we all, we do the process right.

09:36And that's something we've been doing.

09:37And as I said, we are quite positive.

09:39We've done our preparations right.

09:41We've done the process right.

09:42And we are quite positive.

09:43So it's not only double P,

09:45you know, it's triple P.

09:46We've been ready.

09:48And hopefully, you know,

09:49this is the year for us.

09:50Fingers crossed, it is.

09:51It is, it is.

09:52And when that shot from Parthiv Patel

09:54lands in the gallery

09:56or when that catch goes

09:57into your hands, I'll celebrate.

09:58I will celebrate, as I said,

10:01for the resilience, commitment

10:02and determination

10:03that you bring on the field.

10:04That's what is necessary in this DNH.

10:06Thank you very much, Parthiv Patel.

10:07You've been a rock star.

10:08For me, as I keep saying,

10:11more people like you

10:12on the cricket field

10:14will mean more people get inspired.

10:16That's what is important in this DNH.

10:18And a smile matters

10:19to every individual in India.

10:22Thank you very, very much, Parthiv Patel

10:23for speaking to me.

10:24Thank you, Huryana.

FREE HIT - An IPL 2020 talk show with Boria Majumdar: Wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel

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