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Ajaz Patel Leads New Zealand's Fightback vs India With A Five-Wicket Haul At Wankhede

Aashay Chopade

Ajaz Patel against India in the third Test (@BLACKCAPS/X.com)Ajaz Patel against India in the third Test (@BLACKCAPS/X.com)

Ajaz Patel created history at the Wankhede Stadium in 2021 with all ten wickets in an innings. So, he came with happy memories in this third Test of the 2024 series against India and has picked up a fifer in the first innings to build on his great record at this ground. His heroics after the Lunch has kept India under control as they have been bowled out for just 263, and have managed a lead of 28 runs at the end of the first innings.

It is Ajaz Patel's sixth five-wicket haul in Tests and he has now 19 wickets at Wankhede, the second-most at a single venue by the visiting bowler in Tests in India. The left-arm spinner picked wickets at a crucial junctures for the Kiwis. On Day 1 when India were going along nicely at 78 for 1, Ajaz Patel grabbed the big wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal and then removed Siraj on the first ball to difuse India's plan of protecting their batters on Day 1. 

India Lose Their Way In Post-Lunch Session

India again took a commanding position with a counter-attacking partnership between Pant and Gill in the first session of Day 2. However, Ajaz Patel came out with great lines and lengths in the second session and removed India batters in cluster to shot them down for just 263. His fifth wicket was of Ravi Ashwin and New Zealand now have a great chance to put India under pressure with a good batting performance in their second innings.

For India, Shubman Gill top-scored with 90 while Rishabh Pant scored 60. However, rest of the batters again faltered against spin, and the match is moving at a rapid pace with the pitch offering fast turn, making it difficult for the batters.