Ajaz Patel, playing in his hometown of Mumbai, shone with 11 wickets overall to help New Zealand sweep the series against India 3-0 at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Despite a strong performance from Rishabh Pant, Ajaz's clever tactics eventually led to his dismissal, securing him the Player of the Match award. In an exclusive interview, Ajaz credited his success to finding his rhythm on the Mumbai pitch, where he had previously taken 10 wickets in an inning against India in 2021. Meanwhile, Will Young was named Player of the Series for his solid performances in the absence of captain Kane Williamson.
New Zealand's Ajaz Patel once again showed his mastery on the Wankhede pitch, taking a historic 10-wicket haul against India. Despite playing just 9 Tests since that massive feat, Patel has solidified his role as the Black Caps' India specialist through smart selections by the New Zealand selectors. His love for the game and humble approach to his success sets him apart even as he continues to face challenges from India's Rishabh Pant.
Ajaz Patel, who made history with his 10-wicket haul against India in 2018 at Wankhede, has once again put Black Caps in a strong position on the same ground. However, the mystery behind his sparse appearances in just 9 Tests has been revealed - New Zealand's smart and customized selection process based on specific conditions. Even Patel himself has embraced this approach, recognizing the importance of wise team selections in a country with only 70,000 registered cricketers. But with his impressive performance in Mumbai, New Zealand's strategy seems to be paying off as Patel became the first bowler to give his team a series win against India on their home turf in 12 years.
The pitch's behavior on the third day will determine the outcome of the final Test between New Zealand and India, according to spinner Ajaz Patel. Despite a small target, Patel believes the inconsistency of the pitch will make it challenging for batters. With a lead in excess of 150 unlikely, Patel and the Kiwis will have to rely on their spinners to restrict India in order to secure a historic whitewash victory on Indian soil.
On Day 2 of the third Test between India and New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium, Kiwi spinner Ajaz Patel put on a spin bowling masterclass reminiscent of his memorable outing at the venue three years ago. Born in Mumbai, Ajaz once again proved to be a menace for the Indian batters and claimed an impressive 5 wickets in India's first innings. With this, he became the first overseas spinner to claim 5 wickets at Wankhede Stadium since 2011.
The third and final Test between India and New Zealand at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai saw Team India's Sarfaraz Khan getting out without scoring. In a video that made rounds on social media, cameras captured the stunned expressions of Sarfaraz's father and brother as they watched his dismissal. Despite the early setback, India managed to take a lead of 28 runs with a strong partnership between Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. However, Gill fell short of his century before Washington Sundar's late blitz helped India surpass New Zealand's first-innings total.
India struggles in the ongoing India vs New Zealand 3rd Test as New Zealand's left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel claims his career's sixth Test fifer and the Indian batting lineup falters on Day 2. Despite valiant efforts from Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill, India falls short in their attempt to gain a lead against the strong New Zealand bowling attack. With India already losing the Test series, they will have to work hard to avoid a clean-sweep at home.
On Day 1, India's Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant put on a strong partnership to battle against New Zealand's bowlers. Gill showed his form and resilience by scoring a half-century, accompanied by Pant who also achieved a half-century. Unfortunately, New Zealand's fielder Mark Chapman dropped Gill's catch which led to his unbeaten 85 runs, providing a strong contribution towards India's successful Day 1. Jadeja and Sundar also deserve mention for dismissing New Zealand's Daryl Mitchell and Ajaz Patel, respectively.
The Indian cricket team skipper Rohit Sharma's brilliant form suffered a setback as he was dismissed in a bizarre fashion during the first Test match against New Zealand. Sharma, who had scored a gritty half-century, was bowled by Ajaz Patel in an unfortunate manner. This marked India's lowest-ever Test score at home, leading to a damning collapse that left Sharma visibly upset and disappointed.