Twitter Reactions: Ajaz Patel continues his Wankhede love affair with fifer against India
Ajaz bettered himself from Day 1 and picked three crucial wickets on Day 2 to finish with figures of 5/103.
India and New Zealand clashed in the third Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. When both the teams tussled at the same venue in 2021, Kiwi spinner Ajaz Patel manufactured his career best figure by scalping all Indian batters in the first innings. He ended his spell, claiming 10 for 119. He picked four wickets in the second innings and made 14 wicket haul in the second Test.
Almost three years down the line, he had a memorable outing riding on the back of his mind as he entered the Day 2 of the Mumbai Test on November 2. He had picked two wickets on Day 1 and was on the job straight away as the pitch exuded some spin. He bettered himself from Day 1 and picked three crucial wickets on Day 2 to finish with figures of 5/103.
It is worth noting that, Ajaz is of Indian origin and was born in Mumbai before migrating to New Zealand. He picked the wickets of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Mohammed Siraj on the opening day. He then dismissed Sarfaraz Khan, Shubman Gill and Ravichandran Ashwin on Day 2 as India wrapped up their innings on 263 with a lead of 28 runs.
For India, the third Test holds much more importance. They have lost the first two games of the series and also the first Test series drubbing at home since 2012. They want to avoid another record being broken with a win in Mumbai. The Indian team was last whitewashed in Tests at home in 2000 at the hands of South Africa. They have maintained the record for over 24 years, and a win would keep those eons spotless going into the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Here's how 'X' users reacted to Ajaz Patel's spell:
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