Mumbai-born NZ spinner Patel has more success at Wankhede - Gordon D’Costa

 

Mumbai-born NZ spinner Patel has more success at Wankhede

Gordon D’Costa

Mumbai : 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.

 

Gill enjoys having fun in the middle

Meanwhile, Shubham Gill’s knock of 90 runs in India’s first innings against New Zealand in the third Test has proved to be the decisive factor for India in winning the match and avoiding a whitewash. Trailing 0-2 after defeats in Bengaluru and Pune last month, the Indians did well to salvage their pride. Bolstered by the fine batting efforts of Gill, Rishabh Pant (60 runs) and Washington Sundar’s (unbeaten 38 runs) lifted the Indian innings and allowed them to take a crucial, but slender 28-run first innings lead and turn things around.

Overnight the Indians came under pressure and there was a bit of panic as the lost four wickets with just 86 runs on the board in reply to New Zealand’s first innings total of 235. But, the aggressive batting by Pant and Gill in the first hour of the morning on the second day changed the complexion of the match.

“There was a bit of panic. But I think this is what Test cricket is all about. There are moments where you think everything is rattled and then there are moments, like we came out this morning and we had a great first hour and mounted a fight back,” Gill pointed out.

“We were just having fun in the middle, and it was all about trying to put them under pressure because then it is difficult for the bowlers to be able to bowl in that area consistently. We have seen if the bowlers don’t bowl in areas where it is difficult to defend consistently, then it is hard for the bowlers to be able to contain runs,” he further stated.

“I was honestly trying to have fun. I love batting. I try to think of it as just going out there and having another opportunity to bat and bat for the maximum amount that I can. That’s what I was thinking. I was not trying to put too much pressure on myself thinking I have to score these many runs. I was just having fun. I was trying to have fun in the middle and enjoy that moment. Even if it was difficult, just enjoy the difficult moments because you don't get to play those many Test matches. I just feel when I am batting there, if I put too much pressure on myself then I am losing out on the fun of the art of batting,” he concluded.