The iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai holds a special place for New Zealand’s Indian-born cricketer Ajaz Patel, who has enjoyed every moment of performing on this wicket. The 36-year-old left-arm spinner, born in Mumbai before he relocated to New Zealand with his parents, had created history when he took all 10 wickets in India’s first innings of the second Test in December 2021. He had finished with impressive figures of 10 for 119 runs from 47.5 overs, while the Indian opening pair of Mayank Agarwal scored 150 runs and Shubman Gill contributed 44 runs.
Patel had become 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.
England’s James ‘Jim’ Laker was the first bowler to take 10 wickets for 53 runs in an innings against Australia at Old Trafford in July, 1956. More than four decades later Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble repeated that feat picking 10 for 74 against Pakistan at Ferozeshah Kotla Stadium, New Delhi, in February, 1999.
On Saturday, the second day of the third Test, Patel continued with his fine run of form on this track as he finished with impressive figures of 5 for 103 from 21.4 overs. His exploits with the ball enabled the Kiwis to restrict India to 263 runs in their first innings, giving them a narrow lead of just 28 runs. With these performances, Patel has now taken 19 wickets from three innings at the hallowed Wankhede Stadium with an average of 17.26. This was also his second consecutive five-wicket haul at this venue and it marks the sixth time in his Test career that Patel has taken five wickets in an innings.
Patel’s six five-wicket hauls have come outside his country, New Zealand. He produced two such feats each in Sri Lanka and India, and one each, in the UAE and Bangladesh. In the first two Tests of the recent series, Patel had played a supporting role by picking four wickets.
Two days prior, to the start of the third Test an emotional Patel had mentioned that he had happy memories about the Wankhede and Mumbai and thanked the BCCI for scheduling the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium. “After taking that 10-for, 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 had told media reporters.
Patel made the most of the opportunity to play in the city of his birth and was rewarded with another five-wicket cache to boast.