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In 1996, when eight-year-old Ajaz Yunus Patel moved from Mumbai to New Zealand, he did not dream of being a cricket player. The young man, who was born in Maximum City, occasionally played cricket at school.
Twenty-five years later, it’s a moving moment for Patel, at his “home” headquarters – Wankhede Stadium, as he prepares to play a test match. Although he will play in New Zealand, members of his family living in Mumbai will be on the ground to cheer on Patel.
“It’s emotional. I was thinking about that when we landed in Mumbai and I was leaving the airport. I remember how many times I left that airport or went down on vacation with my family. This time it’s another thing, I’m here to play cricket for New Zealand, ”said the rotator cuff of his left arm.
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Patel Wankhede has been at the iconic stadium several times in the past, thanks to his teammate Mitchell McClenaghan, who had previously been with the Mumbai Indians. “It was really nice when he gave me tickets every time I was here. I’ve also bowled to Mumbai Indians on the nets, so it’s pretty nostalgic to be here. But the disappointment is due to COVID, I can’t see my family, ”Ajaz said. In an ideal world, Ajaz would visit his relatives, but with the bio-bubble, that wouldn’t be possible.
“Many family members would come to the ground for several days. That’s the beauty of cricket testing, which can come on days when everyone is free. It’s a busy week, but a lot of family will be coming, ”he said. “It’s very special. They haven’t had a chance to see me play live. They will see me for the first time from the stands … ”
How Ajaz landed in New Zealand
He came from a Gujarati family – his father worked in the fridge while my mother was a school teacher – with roots in the village of Tankaria in the Bharuch district, after Ajaz fell in love with cricket after changing bases.
A few months later, his uncle Sayeed Patel enrolled himself and his cousin in the New Lynn Cricket Club in the Auckland Suburbs. By then, Ajaz Sachin was starting to follow Tendulkar and Shane Warne on TV. At Avondale College, he was already a friend of another Indian, Jeet Ashok Raval, now a member of his team.
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Although not very tall — standing five feet six inches — at first Ajaz started as a fast ball. In the mid-twenties he decided to become a left-arm spinner, thanks to Dipak Patel, a former New Zealand international.
At the time, Dipak was the coach of the New Zealand Under-19 national team, and Ajaz went to national camps. “He’ll probably be back 10 years ago (a little more). He used to be a rhythm ball. With height, he was very good, but he always had that potential to be a spinner, ”Dipak said Sportsstar before.
After not joining the New Zealand U-19 team, Dipa encouraged Ajaz to try Spin bowling. “It was very hot (idea). He decided to spin the ball and for several years, we worked closely together, ”Dipak said.
‘Strong spirit, patience’
But then how did Dipa, who has played in 37 Tests and 75 ODIs for New Zealand, realize that the youngster could really be a good tour? The 60-year-old laughs and says, “The main quality was that he could spin the ball and that was key.”
“More importantly, it also has a temperament. He is very strong and patient. Spinners are not running across teams, so you need to throw a lot of balls and be accurate to be successful at the test level. That’s what he did, ”Dipa said.
However, Dipa admitted that when he first saw Ajaz he didn’t think the youngster would actually play for the Black Cap team. “Ten years ago, probably not. But the work we did when he was in Auckland last season, I think he always had the potential. The left arm spinner is valuable at any level and proves it. He joined the New Zealand team after a lot of work. He has won his prizes by putting numbers on the board, ”he said earlier.
Ajaz, however, began to impress with his finger tour and also became the biggest wicket-taker at Plunket Shield for three years – from 2014-15 to 2017-18 – for his first-team team, the Central Stags. The New Zealand international and former selector, Gavin Larsen, when he was informed that he had finally joined the New Zealand side, could not believe it.
Since making his New Zealand debut, Ajaz has not looked back. And while he’s preparing for another test outing, he’s excited, excited, and overjoyed. After all, it’s a return home for the Mumbai boy.
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