Ajaz Patel’s Ten-Wicket Haul Leads New Zealand to Historic Win Over India at Wankhede Stadium
New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel played a crucial role in his team’s historic series win against India on their home soil. The victory marked the first-ever whitewash by a visiting team in India in a Test series of three or more matches. Ajaz’s performance at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium was outstanding, as he took a ten-wicket haul, helping New Zealand secure a 25-run victory in the third Test.
Ajaz Patel’s Strategy and Performance
Ajaz shared insights into his strategy, explaining how the pitch conditions changed after the morning session on day two, allowing him to use his skills and vary his pace effectively. He also discussed his battle with Indian wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who was a top performer in the series with 261 runs. Ajaz noted that Pant’s aggressive style required him to think creatively to dismiss him.
Match Highlights
India, chasing a target of 147 runs, struggled after a strong start by Pant, who scored 64 runs. Ajaz’s six-wicket haul (6/57) and Glenn Phillips’ three wickets (3/42) were instrumental in bowling India out for 121 runs. Earlier, New Zealand was bowled out for 174, with Ravindra Jadeja taking five wickets (5/55) for India. Despite a lead of 28 runs in the first innings, India couldn’t maintain their momentum, leading to their defeat.
Key Performances
In the first innings, India scored 263, with Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant contributing significantly. Ajaz Patel was the standout bowler for New Zealand, taking five wickets (5/103). For New Zealand, Will Young and Daryl Mitchell’s half-centuries helped them reach a total of 235 in their first innings.
| Brief Scores |
|---|
| India: 263 and 121 |
| NZ: 235 and 174 |
Doubts Revealed
Ajaz Patel -: Ajaz Patel is a cricketer who plays for New Zealand. He is known for his skills as a spin bowler, which means he can make the cricket ball turn and bounce in tricky ways to get batsmen out.
Ten-Wicket Haul -: A ten-wicket haul means a bowler has taken all ten wickets of the opposing team in a single innings. This is a rare and impressive achievement in cricket.
Wankhede Stadium -: Wankhede Stadium is a famous cricket stadium located in Mumbai, India. It is known for hosting many important cricket matches, including international games.
Whitewash -: In cricket, a whitewash means one team wins all the matches in a series, leaving the other team with no wins. It shows a dominant performance by the winning team.
Rishabh Pant -: Rishabh Pant is an Indian cricketer known for his aggressive batting style. He plays as a wicketkeeper-batsman for the Indian national team.
