Ajaz Patel ended the Mumbai Test with figures of 14 /225 as he became the third bowler in Test cricket’s history to take all 10 wickets in an innings. He also finished as the highest wicket-taker in the series with 17 wickets. 

Speaking to Ravichandran Ashwin who himself finished with 14 wickets in the series, Patel said that he wants to emulate the best and that the veteran off-spinner is right at the top of all of them.

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“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 said.

Looking back at playing at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai he said that it was a special occasion. 

It Was A Dream To Play At The Wankhede: Ajaz Patel

“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, who was born in Mumbai and lived in the city until he was eight years old.

Speaking about his early days in Mumbai, Patel said that he played in the maidans and that the domestic structure in New Zealand is a bit different to that of India.” 

“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,” said Ajaz.

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