Ajaz Yunus Patel was born on October 21, 1988, in ever-buzzing Mumbai, India. Life turned, however, when his family-emigrant parents Yunus Patel and Shahnaz Patel, along with two sisters, Tanzeel and Sana, decided to emigrate Ajaz to New Zealand. He was just eight years old and would later set his cricketing fate.
His cricketing career started as a left-arm-seam bowler, but not for long did he gauge his actual talent as a slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler. It had been an important turn in the way of his development to rise to the pinnacle of cricketing fame.
CAPTION: Switching Lanes: From Speed to Spin. SOURCE: Pinterest He made his List A debut on 27 December 2015 while playing in the Ford Trophy and the beginning of an illustrious career.
Patel was the leading wicket-taker in the 2015-16 Plunket Shield season, with 43 wickets, and again in the 2017-18 season, in which he took 48 wickets in nine matches. His good performance allowed him to take home the Men's Domestic Player of the Year at the New Zealand Cricket Awards for 2018.
Recently Written: Josh Acheampong
In the second Test against India in December 2021, Patel engraved his name in cricketing history as he took all ten wickets in an innings to end up with figures of 10/119 from 47.5 overs.
CAPTION:When Talent Meets Tenacity: The Ten-Wicket Wonder. SOURCE: Pinterest This made him the third bowler in Test cricket history to do so after Jim Laker and Anil Kumble. He was on the losing side in that match, but that performance said all about the skill and determination Patel has.
He first represented New Zealand in a T20I match against Pakistan, starting on October 31, 2018. Patel soon followed it up with his Test debut for New Zealand, which came against Pakistan on November 16, 2018; he took five wickets in the second innings of the game, helping New Zealand win the match by four runs and thereby earning the Man of the Match award.
In November 2023, Patel was named in New Zealand's Test squad to face Bangladesh, where he took 6 wickets in the first Test and 8 wickets in the second Test.
CAPTION: Keeping the Spin Strong: Big Wins, Bigger Dreams. SOURCE: Pinterest This consistency has been making him a regular player in the cricket team of New Zealand.
After his historic performance, Patel was known all over the world and was subsequently signed by Glamorgan to play their last four games of the County Championship in England, wherein he took in all 14 wickets, stamping his authority as one of the finest spinners going around.
Ajaz Patel is married to Nilofer Patel, and they are blessed with one child. He is a devoted Muslim and holds dual nationality of India and New Zealand.
CAPTION: Family, Food, and Fitness: Ajaz’s Recipe for Life. SOURCE: indiasfantasy Music is his next love after cricket. During free time, Patel spends his time exploring his musical interests.
Patel's net worth is approximately INR 23 crore accrued majorly from his cricketing career. Many awards have also come his way while performing in domestic cricket. Some of the notable records to his name are the best match figures against India by any cricketer and the best bowling by an overseas spinner in India.
From an amateur to a transformation into one of the ultimate cricketing successes, Ajaz Patel's journey is one of grit, determination, and alteration par excellence, which makes him the most intriguing figure of recent times in cricket.
For more interesting bios, news, and gossip, visit Playerswiki.
