Ajaz Patel’s journey is one of fate, nostalgia, and brilliance. He grew up in the city of dreams, Mumbai, yet fate led him to represent New Zealand. Returning to Wankhede Stadium after 25 years, he did not don India’s blue but New Zealand’s black, playing against the land that once nurtured him. In the end, he etched his name in cricket history, leaving India’s hopes shattered on their own ground.
Three years ago, Ajaz became a sensation by taking all 10 wickets in a single innings at Wankhede—a feat achieved by only two others in the history of cricket. This time, he didn’t just match his past performance but exceeded it. He claimed 14 wickets in two innings, earning himself the respect of fans and critics alike. Yet, in a tragic twist, he was denied the Man of the Match award, a reminder that cricket’s accolades rarely favour the vanquished, even when they are deserving.
It is no longer customary in cricket to award the Man of the Match award to the best player of the losing team. So, Ajaj Patel was not on the award stage despite achieving the feat that only three people in history have achieved. Ajaz must have kept that regret for a long time.
Regret turned into a fire in that Wankhede. India was burnt into these ashes. New Zealand won a historic series against India. New Zealand whitewashed their three-match Test series on Indian soil for the first time. And this is possible thanks to one Ajaj Patel.
Ajaz Patel, Mumbai cha raja #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/G1d0Zi1VkS
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) November 3, 2024
He took 15 wickets in the entire series. Among them, he took 11 wickets only in Wankhede. This time he is the match-winner. He became the match winner on the award stage. Received the Man of the Match award.
Mumbai – Not just movies and crime; Mumbai can also be called the cricket capital of India. From that Sunil Gavaskar to Sachin Tendulkar; Mumbai has not produced fewer cricketers. Not only for India, the number of Mumbai cricketers who play for foreign countries is also not less. And another version of this is Ajaz Yunus Patel.
He came from Mumbai. After 25 years, he played again at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. But not in an Indian jersey—he wore the Kiwis’ colours. And after wearing the jersey of this foreign country, on the very ground where he once played as a child, he singlehandedly dismantled India. Even though Indian cricket lost this time, Mumbai’s cricket culture won through Ajaz’s brilliance! Azad Maidan won thousands of struggles!