New Delhi: It is December 4, 2021, when a Mumbai-born cricketer scripted history by picking up all 10 wickets of an opposition team in a Test match at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. The amusement was that the Indian men’s cricket team was at the receiving end.
Yes, you read it right. New Zealand left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel was on the mission to decimate the Indian batting line-up. Barring Umesh Yadav (the unbeaten player), the complete Indian batting unit was dismissed by the wily spinner in the first innings of the second Test. Ajaz finished with figures 10 for 119 to become the only third bowler after Jim Laker (England) and Anil Kumble (India) to snap all 10 wickets in a Test innings.
The Central District player, nonetheless, couldn’t celebrate his monumental feat jubilantly after New Zealand’s batting innings was cut short to 62 and 167, respectively, to concede 372-run defeat in that match leading to a 1-0 series loss in the two-match Test series. Although Ajaz’s achievement was marvelous, but didn’t signify in tunes of the team’s cause.
Almost three years later, Ajaz was back at his birthplace. But this time with much conviction and appetite. The wicket at the Wankhede Stadium was a square turner and the left-arm orthodox spinner used it much to its effect. The Indian batters were compelled to look meek with their defences. The drifters gripped off the surface like a tornado to kiss the bat of Sarfaraz Khan and Shubman Gill, beat Yashasvi Jaiswal on the reverse sweep, stunned Virat Kohli’s defence, left Ravindra Jadeja in limbo, and messed the stumps after Washington Sundar attempted for a slogsweep.
That’s how Ajaz made the mockery of Indian batting in what was their own turf with his twin five-wicket hauls (5 for 103 and 6 for 57). This time there was delight and euphoria filled in his every celebration as New Zealand did the unthinkable scripting a historic Test series win by obliterating a juggernaut in their own den.
Ajaz only managed to pick four wickets across three innings bowled in the first two Test matches. He came handy only in the second innings of Bengaluru with pace duo of Matt Henry and William O’Rourke doing the utmost damage in the overcast conditions. His ability to bowl flat and quick didn’t reward him much in Pune as the art of turning the ball slower came to the advantage of Mitchell Santner.
Ajaz Patel vs Rishabh Pant. Ajaz Patel vs everyone else. Same match, Same pitch. Completely different story.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 3, 2024
But Ajaz had to wait for Mumbai, where he hogged the limelight three years ago, to shimmer against a clueless Indian side. He walked off with a record to his name at a venue where he had plenty of memories as a young kid. His 25 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in two visits at an average of 15.40 is the most dismissal by any bowler at a particular venue against India in Tests in India.
The 36-year-old Kiwi spinner bettered former England all-rounder Sir Ian Botham’s feat of 22 Test wickets against India, which was also achieved at the Wankhede Stadium. He also became the eighth bowler in Test history to claim two 10-wicket match hauls at the same venue.
“My roots are deeply connected to Mumbai. For me, it’s just special being there and being available and having the opportunity to play at Wankhede. Yeah, it’s surreal. Even when I went there the first time, it was really special even before everything kicked off. It was just special to be in Mumbai and be able to have the opportunity to play there,” Ajaz was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo ahead of the final Test match of the series.
25 test wickets in just 2 test matches at Wankhede
Forever indebted to you for everything you have done Ajaz Patel 😭❤️ pic.twitter.com/WDOVLEb3U4— ⚡ (@Visharad_KW22) November 3, 2024
Whenever Ajaz will return to Mumbai for leisure post his cricket days, he will have some fascinating tales for his grandchildren to hear. He shouldn’t hold on from boasting about his own milestones in Mumbai.
