With luck smiling on him again, when least expected, Baroda's right-arm medium-pacer Rakesh Bhanuprasad Patel, who wasn't in the original squad for India's current twin tour of England and Ireland, gets a chance to make his One-Day International debut in the series against South Africa.
The team management, badly hit by a viral attack on its leading bowlers, had probably no other option but to send an SOS to the readily available Rakesh, who plays for St. Helen's in the Liverpool League as an overseas pro since past three years. He did not get a chance in the first ODI, but, with many players still down with the viral bug, was still kept as cover. Will he play in the second ODI on Firiday? It's anybody's guess, but certainly, there can't be a better testimony or tribute to his calibre and competence as a new ball bowler. Though belated, he fully deserves the recognition.
Rakesh, who scalped 37 victims in the last Ranji Trophy season, was only behind Ranadeb Bose and Joginder Sharma among the leading wicket-takers. It's a pity, though, that the selectors did not consider him for national duty and kept ignoring him just like their predecessors had in the past.
The closest he came to representing the country was during Team India's tour of New Zealand, just before the World Cup in South Africa, in 2003. He wasn't in the original tour party then too, and, ironically, was sent an SOS after illness struck a couple of key bowlers! Unfortunately, he did not get to play a single ODI.
And once the New Zealand tour was over, the selectors conveniently forgot him and he remained in the wilderness in spite of performing consistently well in domestic first-class cricket.
The focus, then, was on his Baroda colleague, Irfan Pathan, and Munaf Patel, who hails from Ikhar, which isn't too far from the Cultured City, but doesn't play for Baroda
Interestingly, neither Pathan nor Munaf are part of Team India on the current tour for a combination of factors like injuries, lack of fitness and want of form.
Rakesh has his former Baroda mate Zaheer Khan to literally give him company on the field as well as in the dressing room. The two had forged an effective fast bowling pair for Baroda before Zaheer switched allegiances.
In fact, it was Zaheer who recommended Rakesh's name to the team management when it was decided to ask for a couple of bowlers to join the tour party. Not only did he give Rakesh's cell phone number to Rahul Dravid, but also ensured that the Indian captain called him up.
Rakesh, who actually hails from Kothambi village near Navsari, which is famous for its Parsi community, in southern Gujarat, was born on October 23, 1978. Coming as he does from a poor background and a place where there is hardly any cricket facility, he has learnt and pursued the game the hard way, just like Munaf.
"Besides my family, who always supported me to the hilt, I've been much encouraged by distinguished Baroda cricketers like Aunshuman Gaekwd, Kiran More, Nayan Mongia and Zaheer Khan and many others. But for their continual support and encouragement, I wouldn't have made any headway in cricket irrespective of whatever little talent I've," the unassuming Rakesh told rediff.com.
He made his first-class debut in 1998-99. Like most Indian opening bowlers, the tall and well-built Rakesh also used to bowl very fast at the beginning of his career, but reduced his pace a bit and became a better bowler, capable of moving and swinging the ball dangerously.
Though he played for Gujarat for a while, he gave his best years to Baroda. If Baroda is one of the formidable teams in Indian first-class cricket today, much of the credit should go to Rakesh, who spearheaded its attack consistently and remarkably even in the absence of men like Zaheer and Irfan.
Rakesh, who has so far taken 234 first-class wickets at 28.50 (including 5 wickets in an innings on 11 occasions) in 67 matches, also played for West Zone, National Cricket Academy, India 'A' and India 'B'. But the India cap continued to elude him for curious, even mysterious, reasons.
Now that his "dream" is about to come true, he should have no complaints or regrets whatsoever.
As they say, better late than never. The ball is in his court now. He must grab the opportunity with both hands, justify the team management's confidence in him and cement his place in Team India. The experience of bowling in the cold European weather should come handy for Rakesh, who is also a more than useful batsman down the order.
