His name may sound Indian (for a good reason, too) but there was nothing Indian in the way he had the Indian batters in a knot on a spin-friendly track at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel (5/103) took a fifer to help New Zealand dismiss India for 263 as the hosts took a 28-run first-innings lead in the third and final Test, on Saturday.
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Rishabh Pant (60) and Shubman Gill (90) mounted a spirited fightback, resuming at the overnight score of 86/4. But, once Pant was dismissed by Ish Sodhi, Patel turned on the screws, spoiling India's momentum with wickets at regular intervals—Sarfaraz Khan (0), Ravichandran Ashwin (6) and Gill.
Patel has happy memories about the Wankhede and Mumbai. The 36-year-old was born in the city, before his family migrated to New Zealand when he was eight. He still has ties with his extended family in Mumbai.
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Also, it was at this venue that Patel created history in 2021. In the Test against India, he took all the 10 wickets in the first innings, becoming only the third bowler after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble to achieve the feat. He took another four wickets in the second innings, but New Zealand lost the match to India by 372 runs.
In fact, ahead of the match, in a press conference, an emotional Patel thanked the BCCI for scheduling the Test at Wankhede. "After taking that 10-fer, I wasn't sure if I would ever have the chance to play here again. I am grateful to the BCCI for scheduling this game and allowing me to return to what feels like home," Patel was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, the ongoing third Test is in fine balance, with New Zealand's lead crossing 70. The Kiwis have lost five wickets at the time of publishing this. Akash Deep castled New Zealand skipper Tom Latham for one, while Washington Sundar accounted for Devon Conway (22). Interestingly, Rachin Ravindra fell to Ashwin—it was his first wicket of the match—and not to Washington Sundar, who has dismissed the southpaw thrice in the series so far. Ravindra Jadeja scalped Daryl Mitchell (21) and Tom Blundell (4).