In July 2018, Patel was named in New Zealand's
Test squad for their series
against Pakistan. In October 2018, he was named in New Zealand's
Twenty20 International (T20I) squad, also for their series against Pakistan. He made his T20I debut for New Zealand against
Pakistan on 31 October 2018. During the same tour, he was also added to New Zealand's
One Day International (ODI) squad, but he did not play in the ODI series. He made his Test debut for New Zealand against
Pakistan on 16 November 2018. He took five wickets in the second innings, with New Zealand winning by four runs, and was named the man of the match. In August 2021, Patel was named in New Zealand's ODI squad for their
tour of Pakistan.
India 2021: Ten wickets In November 2021, Patel was named in New Zealand's Test squad for their
two-match series in India. The first Test finished in a draw late on day five, with Patel taking 2/90 in the first innings, and 1/60 in the second innings of the match. The second Test started on 3 December 2021, with Patel taking all
ten wickets in the first innings of the match, finishing with figures of 10/119 from 47.5 overs. Patel became the third bowler, after
Jim Laker in 1956 and
Anil Kumble in 1999, to take all ten wickets in an innings of a Test match. In the second innings, Patel took a further four wickets, finishing the match with 14/225, the best bowling figures in a Test match against India and also the best for a visiting player in Asia.
2023 In November 2023, he was selected in New Zealand's squad for the
test series against Bangladesh. In the first Test, he picked up 6 wickets across the two innings. In the second Test which New Zealand won, he picked up 8 wickets across two innings.
2024 During the
New Zealand tour of India, Patel was made
Player of the Match in the third and final Test for his 5/103 & 6/57, helping New Zealand win the series 3-0 (3), India's first whitewash at home.
2025 Ajaz was selected for the final Test
against the West Indies at Mount Maunganui where he took 6 wickets and together with
Jacob Duffy helped force a win late on the last day. ==See also==