Ajaz Patel Credits New Zealand's Adaptability for Historic Success

Ajaz Patel played a key role in New Zealand’s historic 3-0 Test series whitewash of India, and he attributed their success to their adaptability and well-planned preparation. The series saw New Zealand overcoming a variety of challenges, particularly the diverse conditions across the three Test venues—Bengaluru, Pune, and Mumbai.

Ajaz highlighted the ever-changing nature of pitches in Asia, which required New Zealand to constantly adjust their game plan. "It’s been three different surfaces and three different games. One of the challenges of going to Asia is that the conditions are going to change all the time, and you have to be adaptable," said Ajaz. The weather and surface conditions varied greatly from Test to Test, and New Zealand’s ability to read and respond to these conditions proved crucial.

For example, in the first Test in Bengaluru, the pace-friendly conditions helped New Zealand bowlers dominate, while in Pune, slower, spin-friendly tracks required recalibration from the bowlers. In the final Test in Mumbai, Ajaz thrived in conditions that favored spinners, and his performance, especially his battle against Rishabh Pant, played a significant part in New Zealand's success.

Ajaz also credited New Zealand's strong preparation back home. "We had a great winter back home where we prepared on turning wickets and made sure we had different surfaces to practice on. So we were conditioned to bowling on different surfaces as well," he added. This preparation allowed the team to handle the challenging conditions in India better.

The spinner also touched on the importance of adapting to fluctuating conditions within a single match. He explained how in Mumbai, the conditions changed rapidly: "Even in this Mumbai Test, I was bowling well in the first innings, but the wicket wasn’t turning. Then after Lunch, everything started happening." The ability to adjust pace and strategy quickly, including changing delivery types, was key to New Zealand’s dominance in the series.

Ajaz acknowledged the crucial role of spin consultant Rangana Herath, who brought invaluable experience from his successful career in the subcontinent. "He gave us a really good idea around the kind of fields to set in terms of Asian conditions, and how to be attacking while limiting boundaries," said Ajaz. Herath's guidance helped refine their strategies, particularly with the importance of a straighter ball for spinners in subcontinental conditions.

Ajaz’s insights into New Zealand’s preparation, adaptability, and the value of strategic thinking underscore how a blend of experience, adaptability, and smart planning led to their historic success in India.