“I built a big house by carrying water at the time” - Parthiv Patel opens up about his 2003 World Cup role

During a recent performance at a comedy event, former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel recalled a humorous memory from his early cricketing days. His little conversation about water quickly became an amusing flashback to the 2003 World Cup. The former wicketkeeper-batter noted that despite being Rahul Dravid's backup throughout the tournament in South Africa, he was still able to earn a sizable sum in the end.

During the entire 2003 World Cup, Parthiv made a joke about building a "big house" by hauling water. In 2002, the footballer made his debut for India and was selected for the international competition, which was jointly hosted by Kenya, Zimbabwe, and South Africa. Despite being a member of the team, Parthiv was unable to play since Rahul Dravid served as India's wicketkeeper-batter during the competition. In the top match, Australia defeated India by 125 runs.

"Don't talk about water, I have carried water for 85 ODIs. I used to carry drinks when Rahul Dravid used to keep wickets. I just gave water during the entire 2003 World Cup, but I built a big house by carrying water at the time," stated Parthiv while speaking on The Comedy Factory's The Lavari Show.

Parthiv also remembered his first Test match. He made his debut at the age of 17 years and 153 days, establishing history as the youngest wicketkeeper in Test cricket. During his debut tour, he also recalled getting sledged by Andrew Flintoff. He acknowledged that because he attended a Gujarati-medium school, he was unable to comprehend much. His early cricket career was shaped by these experiences.

"I had an advantage. When you are 17 and have studied in a Gujarati medium school, how will you understand what Andrew Flintoff is saying? I look very calm, but I am not," he added.

Parthiv's tale demonstrates how young athletes can develop despite having few opportunities to play. He learnt by sharing space with more experienced players. His experience illustrates how exposure and perseverance lead to a greater comprehension of the game.

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