6 New Zealand cricketers with an Indian connection

#2 Jeetan Patel

Jeetan Patel has a five-wicket haul in Tests to his name

Jeetan Patel is an off-spinner who represented New Zealand in 19 Tests, 39 ODIs and 11 T20Is since making his international debut in 2005. Although the 36-year-old hails from an Indian family, he was born and raised in Wellington, New Zealand.

His consistent performances in First-class cricket early on in his cricketing career earned him a spot in the national side and he played his first ODI in August 2005. Interestingly, Jeetan made his debut appearance as a ‘supersub’, a now defunct cricket rule which allowed teams to make tactical substitutions.

The offie played his last international match back in 2013, a Test against South Africa, and had refused to return to the New Zealand team in 2014 in order to concentrate on county cricket. However, Jeetan Patel is currently part of the Blackcaps Test squad which is touring India for a 3-match series.