"We lost to part-timers and not to quality spinners" - Mohammad Kaif downplays Ajaz Patel's performance in India's 'embarrassing' 3rd Test defeat

Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has downplayed left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel's match-winning spells in the third Test that helped New Zealand complete the 3-0 whitewash against India. After picking up only four wickets in the first two Tests, Patel made merry against the Indian batters, with 11 wickets in the series finale.

The 36-year-old had picked up all 10 wickets in an innings at the same venue during New Zealand's 0-1 defeat to India in 2021. Patel received tremendous support from part-time off-spinner Glenn Phillips, picking up four wickets in the Mumbai Test.

Yet, in a video on his X account, as quoted by NDTV Sports, Kaif believed the loss had more to do with the Indian batting, not the Kiwi spinners' prowess.

"Ajaz Patel didn't bowl well. If you see his pitch map, he delivered two full-toss, two short balls, and two length delivers but still managed to take wickets. Glenn Phillips is a part-timer and he doesn't know how to bowl good deliveries. We lost to part-timers and not to quality spinners," he said.

Kaif added:

"Let people say that Ajaz Patel has taken 22 wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. He can't even land the ball properly. Ajaz Patel bowled just two good deliveries in an over and got wickets. The defeat in the final Test is embarrassing. There was no bowler in New Zealand side in the Mumbai Test."

India's struggles against the New Zealand spinners saw them suffer a home Test series whitewash for the first time since 2000. It was also India's first series defeat in Tests at home since the 2012/13 England loss.

"Santner did bowl well" - Mohammad Kaif

Cricket Players Practice Session Before 3rd Match Of New Zealand Vs India Test Series - Source: Getty

Mohammad Kaif, however, praised left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner for his incredible display in the series-clinching second Test at Pune. The 32-year-old played only the lone Test in the series but picked up a remarkable 13 wickets to single-handedly help the Black Caps pull off a 113-run victory.

"Santner did bowl well. The bowling he produced in Pune was a classic Test match performance," said Kaif in the aforementioned video.

After missing the opening Test on a seamer-friendly wicket at Bengaluru, Santner also missed the series finale in Mumbai due to injury.

Meanwhile, New Zealand had not won a Test match in India since 1988 and tasted success only twice in Tests on Indian soil before this series.