Ajaz Patel: Greatest day of my life

New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel celebrates dismissing Mohammed Siraj to claim his 10th wicket at Wankhede on Saturday. Pic/PTI

When Jayant Yadav holed out to New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra at long-off, the chants from the boisterous Wankhede Stadium crowd were, "declare India, declare Kohli."

Team India fans did not want any other bowler to take 10 wickets in an innings apart from their very own Anil Kumble (against Pakistan at the Kotla in 1999). Jim Laker was the first to do the unbelievable - against Australia - in the English summer of 1956.

Anil Kumble 10-74

However, when New Zealand's left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel got the final Indian wicket of Mohammed Siraj to claim all 10 wickets and surpass Sir Richard Hadlee (9-52) to register the best bowling figures by a New Zealand bowler in Test cricket, there wasn't a soul at Wankhede who stayed away from giving him a standing ovation. A huge roar and pumped fists were part of Ajaz's celebration.

Chants of "Ajaz Patel" reverberated at the Wankhede until the Kiwi spinner went off the field. "Personally, it's one of the greatest cricketing days of my life and it probably will always be. It's very special for me, my family and my wife," said a beaming Ajaz during the media interaction after the second day's play.

Also Read: Jogeshwari boy Ajaz Patel becomes third Test cricketer to take all 10 wickets

Jim Laker 10-53

It was stuff of dreams for Ajaz. Born in Mumbai's Jogeshwari area, arrived in New Zealand in 1996 dressed in a little suit, blazer, and hat. Playing his first match in the city he often comes for on holidays, Ajaz couldn't have asked for a better memory than this. The record feat at Wankhede has made Mumbai an extra-special place for him.

"Mumbai is very close to his heart. Ajo [as he is fondly called in the family] loves everything about our city, the street food especially. He just relishes pav bhaji, paani puri and vada pav. The entire family is very proud of what he has achieved today," Ajaz's Mumbai-based cousin Owais, who witnessed his 4-73 on Day One on Friday, told Sunday mid-day.

Special feeling

Ajaz never dreamt about taking all 10 wickets. His only aim was to get his name on the Wankhede's honours board with a five-wicket haul. "I wanted to get on the honours board. I told myself yesterday [Friday] that my name was going to be on the honours board. For it to happen was special," he said.

When Ajaz snared two consecutive wickets - Wriddhiman Saha and R Ashwin - in his first over of Day Two, the expectations of claiming all 10 wickets got stronger. He kissed the Wankhede turf after getting a fifer with the wicket of Saha.

Though Ajaz was erratic at times with his line and length, he completely stamped his authority while bowling from the University Ground end. He made the ball dip and drift a bit. The pitch too assisted him and provided him opportunities, which the other Kiwi bowlers could not manage.

Bowling in four spells - the first being 24 overs on the trot, Ajaz conceded 119 runs in 47.5 overs that included 12 maidens in the first innings, whereas the other five Kiwi bowlers leaked 188 runs.

When Kumble claimed his 10 wickets, Javagal Srinath had revealed that he purposely bowled wide from the other end. In Ajaz's case, there wasn't any such plan.

"No talk of that sort. It doesn't matter who gets the wickets. I would have been happy had I got nine and someone else took one. It was really about making sure we did our job," said Ajaz.

Nervous moment

Ajaz admitted enduring a very nervous moment when Siraj's slog went high in the air before Ravindra pouched it safely. "It was a nervous time. We backed Rachin to take it [the catch], but the ball wobbled and we were all nervous. I told Neil Wagner during the drinks break that I was more nervous then than I was all game. We don't have these moments as cricketers often. It was special that it came in Mumbai," Ajaz concluded.

Tweet talk

Sachin Tendulkar@sachin_rt:
Congratulations #AjazPatel on picking 1️0️ wickets in an innings in Test cricket. Achieving this rare feat at home away from home is truly special. #INDvNZ

Ravi Shastri@RaviShastriOfc:
One of the toughest things to do in the game of cricket. To have an entire team in your kitty in an innings is too good to be true. Simply unreal. Well done young man - Ajaz Patel #INDvzNZ #AjazPatel

VVS Laxman@VVSLaxman281:
Sensational! Just sensational!! To take all 10 wickets in a Test innings is the stuff dreams are made of. Take a bow, Ajaz Patel, you are in the elite company of Jim Laker and Anil kumble. And to do it in the city of your birth, wow!!

Harbhajan Turbanator@harbhajan_singh:
Ajaz Patel This will be remembered forever 47.5-12-119-10 simply outstanding..Let me stand and clap

Suresh Raina@ImRaina:
Truely phenomenal #AjazPatel, congratulations on such a power packed performance & making it to the list! #INDvNZ #10wickets

Dinesh Karthik@DineshKarthik:
All of the world and he does the unthinkable in the city he was born. Some things are just beyond coincidence...well done #AjazPatel

Aaron Finch@AaronFinch5:
That's the most amazing thing I've ever seen!! Ajaz Patel….what a phenomenal performance

Virender Sehwag@virendersehwag:
One of the most difficult things to achieve in the game. A day to remember for the rest of your life, #AjazPatel

Also Read: Wankhede Test Day 2: Siraj bags three wickets as New Zealand 38/6 at tea