The internet was bustling with best wishes when IIT-Bombay alumnus Parag Agrawal took over Twitter as its CEO. Now, another India-born sportsperson has been earning lauds online because of his amazing feat.
Cricketer Ajaz Yunus Patel, who represents New Zealand, recently became the third bowler in the history of men’s Test cricket to take all ten wickets in an innings.
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Earlier, English professional cricketer Jim Laker and former Indian cricketer and cricket coach Anil Kumble were able to achieve this milestone
The 33-year-old left-arm spinner made everyone proud in the second Test against India wherein he claimed 10 wickets in Mumbai, his birthplace. India was all out at 325 in their first innings on Day 2.
Incredible achievement as Ajaz Patel picks up all 10 wickets in the 1st innings of the 2nd Test.
He becomes the third bowler in the history of Test cricket to achieve this feat.#INDvNZ @Paytm pic.twitter.com/5iOsMVEuWq
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 4, 2021
Interestingly, Patel and his family emigrated from Mumbai to Auckland, New Zealand in 1996 when he was eight years old, reported The Indian Express.
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While he struggled to earn a living, cricket happened to him.
“I was more of a school and home guy. I did not have too many friends to play the game in the streets or the nearby ground and we were just finding our feet in the new country. I used to play cricket when I was a child in Mumbai with my cousins and friends in school,” The Indian Express quoted him as saying.
But it was only after his aunt forcefully admitted him into a cricketing club along with her kids that he started enjoying the sport. Even after achieving considerable success in his early years, he wasn’t sure of entering the under-19 club.
“Once he got a hang of it, he was unstoppable. He would keep bowling throughout the day. Sometimes I had to force him to take a few days’ break. But he wouldn’t listen and wanted to make up for the lost time. He had set an individual goal of bowling a particular number of deliveries a day,” recalled Auckland U-19 coach and former New Zealand off-spinner Dipak Patel.
Now, life has come full circle for this desi boy when he created a sporting history against the country of his birth in the city of his birth.
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This is how eminent cricketing personalities and the world reacted to his achievement:
Welcome to the club #AjazPatel #Perfect10 Well bowled! A special effort to achieve it on Day1 & 2 of a test match. #INDvzNZ
— Anil Kumble (@anilkumble1074) December 4, 2021
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 pic.twitter.com/M81eUeSrX4
— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) December 4, 2021
Truely phenomenal #AjazPatel, congratulations on such a power packed performance & making it to the list! #INDvNZ #10wickets 🏏🙌
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) December 4, 2021
One of the most difficult things to achieve in the game. 10 wickets in an innings. A day to remember for the rest of your life, #AjazPatel . Born in Mumbai, creating history in Mumbai.
Congratulations on the historic achievement. pic.twitter.com/hdOe67COdK— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) December 4, 2021
Please don’t let any Indian go to any other country, best don’t even ask them. Dus ka dum 😳 #AjazPatel
— Irfan Pathan (@IrfanPathan) December 4, 2021
10 out of 10. What a monumental performance by #AjazPatel . Only the third player in the history of Test Cricket to achieve the feat. One to cherish for a lifetime. pic.twitter.com/QetZoGQHFJ
— Venkatesh Prasad (@venkateshprasad) December 4, 2021
Are you watching @anilkumble1074 bhai? 😅 Your exclusive club might get a new member today! #AjazPatel #INDvNZ
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) December 4, 2021
Patel Indian ho ya New Zealand ka, Kamal hi karta hai! Congratulations #AjazPatel for becoming the first Kiwi and the only 3rd player in Test history to achieve this extraordinary feat! #INDvzNZ
— parthiv patel (@parthiv9) December 4, 2021
All of the world and he does the unthinkable in the city he was born.
Some things are just beyond coincidence…well done #AjazPatel #INDvNZ pic.twitter.com/Nxirs1cbXU— DK (@DineshKarthik) December 4, 2021
It’s indeed a moment to be celebrated. Kudos, young man.