"He's batted phenomenally": Ajaz Patel in awe of Rishabh Pant after Mumbai Test

Ajaz Patel was named Player of the Match for his exceptional performance in the third and final Test after New Zealand completed a historic clean sweep over India with a 25-run at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday (November 3).

The left-arm spinner was instrumental in New Zealand's historic Test series 3-0 victory over India. Ajaz scalped 11 wickets in the third and final Test match against India at the Wankhede Stadium. After being adjudged Player of the Match, the 36-year-old Ajaz Patel reflected on his success, emphasizing the importance of rhythm in spin bowling.

Ajaz Patel's stunning performance at Wankhede Stadium earns Him Player of the Match award

Ajaz Patel noted that when the pitch conditions are favorable, it is essential to seize the opportunity and make the most of it, and that’s what he did against India, where the Kiwi spinners were on a roll throughout the three-match Test series rather than the hosts spin bowlers.

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Ajaz Patel said at the post-match presentation: “Spin bowling is about rhythm. When you're in such a rhythm, you'll have to make the most of it. When the conditions present themselves, you got to take it by the horns and do something about it.”

During the second day of the test, the left-arm spinner felt a surge of confidence in the morning session, but it was after lunch that the conditions really played into his hands, allowing the ball to turn more sharply. This shift gave him an advantage as he focused on keeping his approach straightforward and staying one step ahead of the Indian batters.

Ajaz Patel opens up about challenges to outsmart Rishabh Pant

Patel noted, “ I felt confident in the morning session as well to be fair, but the pitch didn't offer me a lot in terms of spin. The period after lunch, it turned a lot more and it helped me to use my guile and vary the pace. I just tried to keep it simple, keep the shape of the ball in the air and be ahead of the batters.”

The Kiwi spinner admitted that one of the significant challenges he faced during the third match was Rishabh Pant, who had been in excellent form and was putting pressure on the New Zealand bowlers. To counter this, Ajaz Patel had to think creatively and develop a new strategy to outsmart Pant.

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Pant played a fiery knock of 60 runs off 59 balls studded with eight boundaries and two sixes before being adjudged LBW out off Ish Sodhi in the third and final Test in Mumbai. In the next innings, he scored 64 before being declared out LBW controversially.

Ajaz signed off by saying, “He's (Rishabh Pant) batted phenomenally in the series and he put us under pressure throughout the series. I knew if I just bowled good balls at him, he will come out and hit me out of the park. So, I had to think out of the box and come up with a different plan against him.”

New Zealand scripts history with a 3-0 clean sweep over India

Notably, this was the first time when New Zealand has achieved victory in all three Test matches during a series, whether at home or away. Additionally, it is the first instance of New Zealand winning three consecutive Test matches on foreign soil.

New Zealand has also become the first team to whitewash India in a Test series. This is the first occasion that India has faced a whitewash in a home series featuring three or more Tests.

New Zealand has now joined England, Australia, and the West Indies as the fourth team to record a 3-0 whitewash against India in India. England and Australia achieved this feat four and three times, respectively.