New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel received a special gift from Team India after the end of the second Test match in Mumbai. In the first innings, he took all the 10-wickets to etch his name in the history books.
The 33-year-old became only the 3rd player in Test cricket to grab all 10-wickets in an innings after England’s Jim Laker and Anil Kumble of India. Also, Patel became the first to bag a record 14-wicket haul in an international red-ball fixture against India.
After the contest, Indian spin maestro Ravichandran Ashwin on behalf of the Indian team, gifted Patel a signed jersey.
The BCCI has shared a few pictures of Patel along with Ashwin.
You just cannot miss this 🗣️ 🎥@ashwinravi99 & @AjazP in one frame 👍 👍
Stay tuned for this folks ⌛
Interview coming up soon on https://t.co/Z3MPyesSeZ#TeamIndia #INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/mCzzMuQ7aZ
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2021
“Been a very special outing, dream to play at Wankhede and to be able to come here and do something like that is very special,” said Ajaz to Ashwin.
“You look at me standing next to you, I don’t really have the height to be a fast bowler. I switched to spin about 10 years ago and it has been a special journey since. It takes a lot of time to develop the craft. It’s been amazing to see your journey and the amount of wickets you have taken around the world. For me it is emulating some of the best and you are up there,” he added.
“Early on India it was about playing cricket in maidan just because you enjoy it with a rubber ball or a heavy tennis ball. In New Zealand there was a little more structure added to it. Indians are cricket mad so in our family we still played in the backyard every hour,” Ajaz signed off.
Here’s the video:
Special Mumbai connect 👍
Secret behind 10-wicket haul 😎
A memorable #TeamIndia souvenir ☺️🎤 @ashwinravi99 interviews Mr Perfect 10 @AjazP at the Wankhede 🎤 #INDvNZ @Paytm
Watch this special by @28anand 🎥 🔽https://t.co/8fBpJ27xqj pic.twitter.com/gyrLLBcCBM
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2021
