Bipin Dani
Ajaz Patel was "unlucky" for not being awarded the Player of the Match award, according to his mentor and former Kiwi spinner Dipak Patel.
Ajaz Patel not only took India's all ten wickets in the first innings but also grabbed four more in the second innings.
The decision makers' preference was Mayank Agarwal in the Mumbai Test, which was well won by the home team.
"In my opinion Ajaz was very unlucky not to get the MOM, however it's a difficult decision for the person or people who were selecting the MoM. Ajaz's achievement was amazing for a foreign spinner to get 10 wickets on day 1, in the first innings of a Test match against India's best batsmen to play spin bowling", Dipak Patel, speaking exclusively over the telephone from Auckland, said.
"He also picked up 4 more wickets in the 2nd innings. In normal situations 98% of time the winning team individual will be awarded the MoM". Patel, however, added, "again on a difficult pitch to bat Agarwal batted superbly and put his team in a strong position and scoring runs in the 2nd innings was a match winning performance".
"Awarding Ajaz would have been a sentimental one, but we must appreciate this international cricket and Test Match so in my opinion that was the right call", Dipak Patel added.
Former India chief selector also echoed his views on the presentation.
Speaking to this Reporter, he said, "I totally understand the depth of your concern for a historical achievement which had been duly recognised by felicitating Ajaj Patel by staging Association. But the reality is that it was Mayank's knocks that helped the team to win the Test match and eventually the Test series. I believe this decision is absolutely right".
