Jeetan Patel is “really excited” by his appointment as captain of Warwickshire in the Specsavers County Championship and Royal London Cup next season.
And the long-time Edgbaston favourite intends to “repay the club” for their faith in him by playing a major part in the Bears’ rebuilding process following a difficult 2017 season.
Now it’s all about looking forward and working hard with the current group of players to try to create something special for the club and supporters in the years ahead.
Jeetan Patel
“I am really excited by the challenge,” Patel said. “It is an enormous honour to captain the Bears. When you look at the guys who have captained the club over the years and what they have achieved, it is amazing to go on that list. But now it’s all about looking forward and working hard with the current group of players to try to create something special for the club and supporters in the years ahead.
“Last season was a difficult one for the club but every club goes through times like that at some point and the important thing is how people react. The challenge is there for us to rebuild and go again.
“I’m not going to make any rash promises about what we might achieve because we know how much hard work lies ahead, but we have a lot of really talented players here – the guys who we have brought in this year, younger players who are coming through and the senior guys who have proved their quality over a number of years.
“I have been at Warwickshire for quite a long time now so I know the players very well, their strengths and weaknesses and how they tick on and off the field, so that will help a lot.”
For 37-year-old Patel, the captaincy brings a new dimension to a career which seems to deliver more, both to himself and the teams he represents, the longer it stretches.
I am very fortunate to have had a lot of great times at the club already and now I want to repay the club by playing a big part in the rebuilding process and hopefully delivering more success.
Jeetan Patel
“I had a stint as captain at Wellington a few years ago but didn’t really enjoy it because perhaps I wasn’t quite ready for it,” he said. “But now I am a pretty experienced player and better-equipped to captain a side.
“I have been part of a lot of success at Warwickshire and then last season was not so good so I’ve seen both sides of the coin which is all good experience.
“It is just a huge honour to be appointed captain of the Bears. I am very fortunate to have had a lot of great times at the club already and now I want to repay the club by playing a big part in the rebuilding process and hopefully delivering more success.”
