Could Ajaz Patel be an underrated replacement for Keshav Maharaj
22.03.26, 13:16 Updated 22.03.26, 13:18 3 Minute Read
Oliver Shouksmith
When the news came out that Keshav Maharaj would no longer be playing at Grace Road, there would have been a few disappointed Leicestershire fans, however could his Kiwi replacement be just as effective for the Foxes?
Maharaj, who has previously captained the Proteas in red and white ball cricket, was due to join Leicestershire for the first block of Championship fixtures as well as for the Vitality Blast but withdrew by mutual agreement due to workload constraints.
His replacement, Ajaz Patel, grew up in Mumbai before moving to New Zealand at eight years old. It was here where his cricketing career has flourished, playing 22 tests and taking 91 wickets. The clear highlight of his international career was taking all ten wickets in an innings against India at the Wankhede Stadium in 2021, one of just three bowlers in history to achieve this feat.
But how do his numbers shape up compared to Maharaj?
Become a member today.
The Fox needs its community to support independent, high-quality coverage of Leicestershire Cricket. Subscribe to a monthly or annual package today to be a part of something special.
Already have an account?