While he usually manned cover, he was often a part of Ashok Mankad's strategy: Mankad played him deceptively back at mid-on, and if the unsuspecting batsman attempted an extra run, Parkar swooped down on the ball and pulled off run outs with his famous direct hits – a skill he had apparently picked up due to years of playing pittu.

His finest effort came at Guwahati in 1982–83, when he top-scored with 42 in a total of 178 for 7 against a rampant West Indies.

The following season he had a run of 148*, 40, 156, 84, 68 in Ranji Trophy; the 156 came in a 421-run opening stand with Gavaskar against Bengal.

This came after an unbeaten 148 in the same season Parkar went on the England tour, playing the only Test of his career.

His finest effort came at Guwahati in 1982–83, when he top-scored with 42 in a total of 178 for 7 against a rampant West Indies.