NZ spinner Ajaz Patel trains in Mumbai ahead of India Test tour

MUMBAI: New Zealand’s left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel is leaving no stone unturned to make a mark in the three-Test series against India, beginning from Oct 16 in Bengaluru. Patel, who was born in Mumbai (his parents migrated to New Zealand many years back) and still has relatives here, trained at the

MIG Cricket Club

on Tuesday.
On Thursday, the 35-year-old will fly to Bengaluru where he will hook up with the rest of the Kiwi squad.

The spinner, who has taken 70 wickets in 18 [email protected], has a special connection with Mumbai, having become only the third bowler in Test history after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble to log a ‘perfect 10’ when he took 10 for 119 in India’s first innings at the

Wankhede Stadium

in the second Test in December 2021.
In September, Ajaz had requested Mumbai’s Datta Mithbavkar, who was the local manager of the Afghanistan team during the one-off Test between New Zealand and Afghanistan at Greater Noida (the match was entirely washed out due to rain) to arrange for a training facility in Mumbai ahead of New Zealand’s tour of India.

“Ajaz had requested me at that time if he could get a facility to practise in Mumbai, since he would arrive a bit earlier to meet his relatives in the city (his wife is also from Jogeshwari). He wanted an outdoor facility, and wanted to practise on a spin-friendly wicket. After that, he was in touch with me. It was Nilesh Bhosle (

Mumbai Cricket Association

Apex Council member), who organised a practice session for Ajaz at the MIG Club. He trained for almost 90 minutes and bowled 10-12 overs. He bowled to former India U-19 allrounder Vaibhav Ankolekar, and was impressed with his batting. He gave him tips on bowling left-arm spin too. I had also asked a few young local players, including a couple of left-arm spinners from my academy, to be present and he shared bowling tips with them too,” Datta told TOI on Wednesday