Patel, being an experienced international cricketer, ought to have contained his emotions. He knew very well that he was going to be charged for the offence
Umpire Virender Sharma's howlers in the Irani Cup including two on the third day may cost Gujarat dearly. As much as dropped catches by the Rest of India fielders, particularly by Test batsman Karun Nair at first slip may prove costly for the Cheteshwar Pujara-led side.
The Gujarat skipper was erroneously given out on 32 by umpire Sharma from Himachal Pradesh, caught by Akhil Herwardkar diving at short-leg when the batsman shouldered arms against Shahbaz Nadeem and the ball popped up towards the leg side, with bat nowhere near the willow.
An unhappy Patel, angry at the decision, kept staring at the umpire all the way to the dressing room, even saying something to him on the way back.
Patel, being an experienced international cricketer, ought to have contained his emotions. He knew very well that he was going to be charged for the offence.
"I don't know how much I will be punished. I know I will get charged for what I have done. I cannot make any comment on it. Everyone has seen it on TV," said Patel at the end of the day, coming straight from the referee Chinmaya Sharma's room after the hearing.
"I cannot make any comment on the umpiring decision. I am not allowed to do," said Patel, who added the practice of submitting captains report after every match has stopped since the last two seasons.
Whatever be the level of punishment, it should not matter for Patel, who is confident of defending 359 plus whatever extra runs that Chirag Gandhi, not out on 55, and Nos. 10 and 11 add on the fourth morning.
Parthiv pinned his hopes on first innings centurion Chirag Gandhi, who was batting on 55, to take Gujarat to a total that Rest would find tough to chase. Patel praised the brave Gandhi, who was batting with three stitches on his right hand after suffering a cut while taking slip catches at the start of the third day's play on Sunday.
Patel was also confident of his "disciplined" young bowling attack doing the job when Rest went out to chase at some stage on Monday.
"Any team would take this kind of a target, 359, 375, 400 or whatever," the 31-year-old diminutive keeper who made a Test comeback against England two months ago after eight years, said. "To go out and chase in the fourth innings will not be easy. We also have the experience of the recent Ranji Trophy final, chasing 312 when we were under tremendous pressure. But how many teams have chased it?"
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 "Parthiv Patel")
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