It's Not Going To Really Impact Me Too Much: Ajaz Patel On His 10-For Achievement Against India

New Zealand spin bowler Ajaz Patel said that his latest achievement in his career won’t change his life much.

Ajaz Patel was in the limelight after he picked all ten Indian wickets in the first innings of the second Test at Wankhede in Mumbai.

The Mumbai-born New Zealand spinner became the third player in history to achieve the feat after Anil Kumble and Jim Laker.

It’s about staying grounded as the person that I am: Ajaz Patel

As it takes just one big moment for any player to turn his fortunes, this was the one for the 33-year-old. But the left-arm spinner aims to remain grounded and said nothing will impact him.

“I’m not too sure to be honest with you. I’m very much in the present at the moment. Yes, I’ve achieved something amazing, but it’s a new day and there’s more cricket to come,” Ajaz said in a media interaction.

“So for me, it’s about staying grounded as the person that I am, down to earth and nothing’s really changed.

“And it’s not going to really impact me too much because I know there’s a lot more left in my career. And if you look at my career, I’m 11 games in and I hope to be one of those cricketers that’s played 80 or 90 games for New Zealand by the end of my career,” he added.

New Zealand is a place where I’ve been given the opportunities to develop as a cricketer: Ajaz Patel

Ajaz’s family left for New Zealand in 1996 in order to aim for a better lifestyle but who knew the bowler would return back to the city, where he was born, and claim 10 wickets in a Test innings.

Ajaz thanked the New Zealand Cricket for giving him the opportunity to represent the Black Caps and also talked about his experience in the trans-Tasman nation.

“New Zealand is a place that I’ve been brought up. It’s a place where I’ve learned my craft. It’s a place where I’ve been given the opportunities to develop as a cricketer and be the person that I am and the cricketer that I am and without New Zealand cricket, I probably wouldn’t have the career that I have now,” Ajaz said.

“So I wouldn’t change it for the world. And yes, I also call myself an Indian by heritage and I’m proud of that too,” he added.

Despite Ajaz Patel’s heroics with the ball, New Zealand lost the second Test by 372 runs, and hence, they also lost the series 0-1.

Also Read: IND vs NZ 2021: Made A Great Choice Of Switching Over To Spin, Says Ajaz Patel