I love everything approximately Mumbai. The rapid tempo, the electricity, the buzz, the hustle, and bustle…You can exit at 10 pm, and everything is still busy. Amazing!”
Is it absolutely top-notch to locate Mumbai bursting with pastime at 10? Are you extreme? Well, now not so if you are a Mumbaikar however absolutely if you are a New Zealander.
Ajaz Patel, the latest suit-winner from Down Under after his exploits in opposition to Pakistan on Monday, takes pride in being a full-blown Kiwi however says he loves the pace of Mumbai. He loves the taste of Mumbai too.
“I am pretty a fan of Indian food. I like Indo-Chinese cuisine, Mughlai food, kebabs… oh yes the street food of Chowpatti: Golgappa, Pani Puri, Bhel, Dahi Puri and Pau Bhaji,” he tells Mirror in a telephonic verbal exchange from Abu Dhabi, a day after his 5-for propelled New Zealand to a sensational 4-run win over Pakistan.
“When I come to India, I do make a maximum of it (the one’s meals). I put on some kilos, and I would need to work tougher going back so that I shed the burden. I love the time I spend in Mumbai, it would be a fresh time,” he thinks aloud.
Ajaz’s circle of relatives is from Gujarat however he was born and brought up in Mumbai till the Patels left for New Zealand in 1996 for greener pastures. But his early life days of Mumbai are still sparkling in his thoughts. “I lived in Jogeshwari, my mom become a college instructor; my father was a refrigeration expert. I studied inside the Mount Mary School in Goregaon West.”
He continued. “We left when I changed into six or seven. It became because we had a family in New Zealand and us notion there would be an excellent way of life. We’ve been there ever considering the fact that. Once in New Zealand, my father opened a shop and lifestyles has been proper. But we nevertheless communicate Hindi at home,” he discloses. Ajaz married a Mumbai lady, Niloufer, who’s from Amrit Nagar. It becomes an ordinary fat Indian wedding ceremony 3 years ago — they don’t have children yet.
Fast-bowler initially
How did cricket manifest to him? “We stay in Auckland but I play my cricket for the Central Districts. I was once a fast-bowler growing up, that changed into my development. I performed for Auckland as a fast bowler. I did now not see myself progressing as a fast bowler to fulfill my aspirations of gambling for New Zealand. I determined to attempt something distinct. Thanks to Dipak Patel and other coaches, I attempted my hand at spin.”
Then? “I made my debut for the Central Districts five years in the past. From there, I kept operating difficult and stored enhancing my skill sets. Earlier this summer, I was given picked for the New Zealand A team, and now I am fortunate enough to be gambling for New Zealand. It turned into a special sport for me.”
Ajaz bowled to Indian cricketers at the nets while the crew becomes there a few years ago seeing that he changed into conversant in rolling his arm over as a practice bowler too many traveling international aspects. Now he is happy that he’s an international himself.
“The previous few days had been pretty special. I owe so much to New Zealand. I even have bowled to Indian cricketers at nets. As a teen developing up, you appearance up to these cricketers. I bowled to pretty few traveling sides. Those moments are pretty unique. I am in that position wherein I am an international cricketer,” he says with a feel of satisfaction.
But he might now not accept as true with that rising as a healthy-winner against Pakistan become a special high just as it might be for any Indian. He might rather want to do it towards Australia, who is New Zealand’s arch-opponents.
White-ball venture
“Was it a unique excessive, no longer always,” he declared. “At the quit of the day, Pakistan has been like another opposition; my effort has been to provide my fine. It changed into special regardless of who the opposition becomes. I cherished it. I think as a Kiwi, the biggest contention is gambling Australia. Maybe someday that (high) will happen.”
After the win in Abu Dhabi, he said would like to play against India. “I would love to have the opportunity to play in the IPL due to the fact it’s miles one of this studying enjoys. At the moment I am focussing at the series. A collection towards India in more than one months is developing. So, you never know what is going to manifest…” he stated.
But the series towards India may be handiest white-ball cricket — has he no longer finished well as a purple-ball participant? “You in no way recognise what can happen in two months…” he signed off.
I would love to have the opportunity to play within the IPL due to the fact it’s far any such getting to know revel in… A series against India in a couple of months is developing. So, you never understand what’s going to take place
