'I wouldn't say fearsome, but certainly fearless' - Ajaz Patel explains challenges of bowling to Rishabh Pant [Exclusive]

Ajaz Patel (Source: CricTracker)

Mumbai-born Ajaz Patel has been New Zealand's go-to spinner, especially when they have played in the sub-continent in the last few years. He has played 21 Tests, picking up 85 wickets at an average of 29.26. The highlight of his career remains the 10-wicket haul he bagged in the first innings of the second Test against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in December 2021.

During an exclusive interview with CricTracker, the left-arm spinner recalled a special video message he received from Anil Kumble after picking up 10 wickets in an innings. For the unversed, Kumble was the one who took 10 wickets in an innings before Patel.

The 36-year-old also explained how special it was for the New Zealand team to win the World Test Championship (WTC), especially with stalwarts like Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor in the side. Patel also described why bowling to Rishabh Pant is very difficult in Test cricket.

Born in Mumbai, raised in New Zealand — where does your heart feel more connected, India or New Zealand?

To be honest, it's connected in both places for different reasons. I guess India was where I was born and initially grew up. And then obviously New Zealand is where I guess I made my home, and my family has established our roots here now. But both places hold a very special place in my heart. I dearly love India. I love representing my Indian heritage, but at the same time, I love being a Kiwi as well.

How special was it to take 10 wickets in Mumbai, the city of your birth?

Yes, it was quite amazing. I think I'm very fortunate, I guess, for it to have happened the way that it happened and unfold the way that it unfolded. It's a bit of a round circle moment, I guess, coming back to the city of your birth and having an amazing record like that in a ground that's so iconic, not only in India, but on the world stage.

Did Kane Williamson give any special message to the squad after the WTC final victory against India?

No, nothing over the top. I think overall, we were all just very, very pleased for a nation as small as ours to achieve something like that and win the inaugural World Test championship. It was quite an amazing feeling. I think the boys were really, really, I guess, pleased for the guys like Kane (Williamson) and Ross (Taylor) and BJ (Watling), who were the stalwarts of the team and who had been through a lot, I guess, for New Zealand, especially going into a lot of World Cups and semifinals and finals and not quite crossing the line. But to finally cross the line and win the championship was pretty special.

You started as a fast bowler before switching to spin in your 20s. What sparked that shift, and do you ever miss bowling pace?

Yeah, I mean, I used to love bowling pace, a left-arm in-swing bowler. But I guess the reality was that at my height and my build, I wasn't going to get any quicker or get any further. I'm fortunate that I had the right people around me to guide me at that time, and I guess create a path to then take up spin bowling. 
But it certainly wasn't an easy decision because I was doing very well in terms of fast bowling. I played in the district under-19s tournament for Auckland and had some very good tournaments. But I guess it was looking at where the future lay for me in terms of cricket and whether I thought I could make the international team as a fast bowler. And I guess eventually I decided to go the spin bowling route.

One memory of India that you always carry with you?

That's easy. The food and family. I mean, for me, India is an amazing place with the most amazing people. And obviously, family is such a big part of my life. And at the same time, the food. I mean, you go around the streets of Mumbai, and you can smell it in every corner, and it's just such a beautiful culture. I guess in terms of the food culture in India is so strong and we take a lot of pride in the food that we have.

Any message from Anil Kumble after joining him in that elite club?

I got a lovely message from Anil Bhai. He sent me a video message congratulating me, and I guess quite humbly, he tried to make it sound like I had the better version because I got it in the first innings. He's an inspiration to many bowlers, and what he achieved throughout his career was phenomenal. And to, I guess, be mentioned in the same sentence is quite an honour, and I'm very, very humbled by it.

You previously said that everyone is scared of Rishabh Pant whenever he’s batting. Do you think he is one of the most fearsome batters in Test cricket currently?

I wouldn't say fearsome, but certainly fearless. He's a batsman who plays with a lot of confidence, and he certainly doesn't shy away from taking the hard options. But he's immensely talented and phenomenal in the way that he goes about it. I think even more recently, we've seen how destructive he can be on an international stage. And I guess as a bowler, you know that you have to be on top of your game to dismiss someone like him. Otherwise, he can really just flip a game on its head.