Brijesh Patel

Brijesh Patel

Personal information
Full name	Brijesh Pursuram Patel
Born	(1952-11-24) 24 November 1952
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm off break
Relations	Udit Patel (son) Taryna Patel (daughter)
International information
National side	India (1974–1979)
Test debut (cap 131)	6 June 1974 v England
Last Test	16 December 1977 v Australia
ODI debut (cap 7)	13 July 1974 v England
Last ODI	16 June 1979 v Sri Lanka
Career statistics
Competition Tests ODIs Matches 21 10 Runs scored 972 243 Batting average 29.45 30.37 100s/50s 1/5 0/1 Top score 115* 82 Catches/stumpings 17/- 1/-
Source: Cricinfo, 11 November 2020

Brijesh Patel (born 24 November 1952) is an Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national cricket team as a right-handed batsman from 1974 until 1979.

Biography

Patel grew up in Bangalore.

He played in 21 test matches from 1974 to 1977, and sustained a batting average of 29.45. He was also a bowler, but was never asked to deliver his right-arm off breaks for his national team. His highest test score was 115 not out. He was regarded as an excellent fielder normally covering areas around cover and point. He has a record of being a player who has never gone for a duck.

While his international cricketing career was not particularly productive, he made 37 hundreds and over 11000 runs in first class cricket. His international career came to a premature end because of his suspect technique against genuine pace. At the time of his retirement, he held the Ranji Trophy records (since bettered) for most runs and hundreds. His talent first became evident as a student in Bishop Cotton Boys School, Bangalore, and he represented his country in a junior team that traveled to Australia. Throughout his career, he represented Karnataka state and captained the team to many victories. He and fellow international Gundappa Vishwanath formed a formidable batting pair.

After his playing days he became cricket administrator. A Jagmohan Dalmiya (past President of the Indian Cricket Board (BCCI)) supporter, Patel was appointed the Director of the National Cricket Academy in India until he was replaced in 2005 by another ex-Test cricketer, Shivlal Yadav, the current director of the NCA.

Brijesh Patel has also been the Hon. Secretary of the Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) since 1999 and controls cricket in Karnataka. Some years ago he was also the Chairman of the National Selection Committee for the Indian national team and resigned after suffering a heart ailment.

Brijesh Patel runs a private cricket coaching academy in Bangalore called B.P.C.A. (Brijesh Patel Cricket Academy), attended by more than 300 boys.

External links

• Brijesh Patel at ESPNcricinfo