"Obviously I'm quite passionate about playing so it can be frustrating sitting out situations when I'm not playing for the top side," he says before the Stags play the table-topping Canterbury Kings in the one versus two qualifying final of the limited-overs Ford Trophy competition.
The 24-year-old Aucklander's edict is pretty simple - keep rolling his arms in the net and keep performing for whoever he is representing and the rest will take care of itself.
"You just keep asking the questions and keep performing."
The Pay Excellence Hawke's Bay senior men's representative coach Colin Schaw has relished Patel's input during the Chapple Cup and Hawke Cup-qualifying zone two Furlong Cup matches where he, Angus Schaw and, last weekend, Giliam Christoffel Pretorius have stolen the thunder from the seamers in taking wickets.
"I enjoy my time with the Hawke's Bay team and it's good fun," says Patel, who also represented CD A at the National Provincials at Lincoln, near Christchurch, for the third season where they finished runners-up and he was the equal fifth highest wicket taker.
"Overall it was pretty good for me because I didn't give away runs and took wickets at crucial times.
"It's essential that I perform to put the teams in positions where we can take a lot of games," he says.
The United Travel Taradale CC player didn't play any games for the Stags in the Georgie Pie Super Smash T20 campaign but he is behind No 1 spinner Marty Kain in the white-ball formats.
CD coach Heinrich Malan and skipper William Young will make their decision this morning after inspecting the pitch but with Kain recovered from his side strain Patel is likely to carry the drinks while Blair Tickner is on a familiarisation trip so he'll be the first off the 13-member squad.
Patel says CD are a close-knit group and there's no animosity when someone misses out on selection but welcomes robust competition to rule out any complacency in a healthy and happy environment.
"Marty and I talk a lot about bowling and George [Worker] plays a part as a core group of spinners."
He has been batting well with Taradale but is mindful that he needs to transfer that to first-class level where CD already have him as nightwatchman anywhere from 8-11.
The winners of that game will head straight to the grand final, with hosting rights, but the losers will have a second life in playing the winners of the 3rd v 4th qualifying final (Otago Volts v Aces) in the elimination final on Wednesday next week.
Patel says defending champions CD want to win to buy a week's rest and a home final.
"There's nothing better than a packed house at Pukekura Park," he says, adding anything can happen come playoff time.
CANTERBURY KINGS (possible): Tom Latham, Leo Carter, Peter Fulton, Henry Nicholls, KJ McClure, Roneel Hira, Andrew Ellis (c), Cameron Fletcher (wk), C McConchie, Kyle Jamieson, T Johnston, Ed Nuttall, Logan van Beek.
Coach: Gary Stead.
CD STAGS (two to be omitted): William Young (c), Doug Bracewell, Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver (wkt), Marty Kain, Ajaz Patel, Seth Rance, Jesse Ryder, Bevan Small, Ben Smith, , Blair Tickner, Ben Wheeler, George Worker.
Coach: Heinrich Malan.
