Parthiv Patel balancing IPL on one side and father battling brain haemorrhage on the other

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Parthiv Patel
Parthiv Patel has two aspects that he is balancing right now
Parthiv Patel has two aspects of life that he is balancing right now

In the ongoing IPL, Parthiv Patel is playing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore who is having a disastrous season, having lost 6 out of 6, and currently right at the bottom of the table. However, Parthiv is not able to focus 100% on the game because of his personal life. His father has been admitted in the ICU and is currently battling a brain haemorrhage.

After every match or his innings with the bat ends, Parthiv goes into the dressing-room and checks his phone first hoping that no bad news has come from the hospital. “I just hope and pray that there is no bad news from the doctors,” Patel told The Indian Express.

Parthiv had first revealed the condition of his father’s illness in February 2019, when he tweeted: “Pls keep my father in your prayers. He is suffering from brain haemorrhage.” It’s been a couple of months and the condition of his father has been the same till now.

The RCB opening batsman has revealed how his life has been very tense ever since his father collapsed, with the seriousness of the illness also demanding some big decisions to be made from time to time.

While talking about this issue, Patel said, “When I am playing, nothing crosses my mind, but once a game is over, my heart is at home. The day begins by asking about my father’s progress, keeping in touch with doctors, sometimes I have to take some important decisions. My wife and mother are at home but when it comes to taking any final decision, my approval is sought. The initial phase was critical – should we switch off the ventilator for a few days, or how much oxygen should be given. Such decisions are very tough to take.”

“I remember the day he suddenly fell down. The next 12 days, I was there in ICU, I didn’t even go home for 10 days. The Mushtaq Ali tournament was happening then and I missed a lot of games. We don’t have mobile phones when we are playing. Once I’m involved in the match, any thought of home doesn’t cross my mind but once the game is over and I’m back in the dressing room, I am constantly thinking about my father,” added Patel.

The Gujarat-born cricketer’s family has decided to keep mum about his father’s health conditions especially on Parthiv’s matchday in order to not let it affect his performance on the field.

“On match days, there have been several times when my family has taken decisions and let me know only after the game. They don’t want to distract me. It takes a mental toll but what can one do? Honestly, there were some negative thoughts before but now the family is prepared for the struggle we are going through,” he revealed.

Patel has been one of the better performers of the faltering RCB team, who has scored 172 runs in the 6 matches so far. He will take the field again on Saturday when RCB takes on KXIP in Mohali.