Tiny in build, but very great mental strength, Parthiv made his Test debut for India as a 17-year-old when India toured England in 2002. A competent wicketkeeper-batsman, he was signed up by the Chennai Super Kings for US $325,000 at the IPL Auction in 2008. From India-s first-choice wicket-keeper to falling off the radar of selectors, Parthiv Patel's journey has been a dramatic one. The second wicketkeeper-batsman in the Chennai Super Kings line-up, Parthiv Patel played a very important role in his team making it to the final of the inaugural season of the IPL. Reliable behind the stumps, it was his new-found role as an opening batsman that reaped rich rewards for his team. Parthiv, along with Matthew Hayden and Stephen Fleming, more often than not got their team off to great starts, and set a great platform for their intimidating middle order. He himself hasn't fared too badly with the bat, scoring close to 500 runs at an average of 22.20.