Strategic Precision in Demanding Circumstances
Afghanistan fast bowler Mohammad Saleem garnered praise from all corners for his 6 for 140 in India’s first innings in the one-off Test in New Chandigarh. The Afghanistan batters, though, let the side down. At stumps on day two, they were reeling at 113 for 5, still 451 runs behind India.
Although going for 5.18 per over, Saleem was one of the few positives for the visitors so far in this Test. Playing only his second Test, he bowled consistently around 140kph in oppressive heat. Having dismissed Yashasvi Jaiswal and B Sai Sudharsan on Saturday, Saleem had Shubman Gill caught behind for 126 with the second new ball that was about nine overs old by then.
A few overs later, Dhruv Jurel misjudged the line and shouldered arms, only for the ball to hit the top of off stump. Later, Saleem dismissed Manav Suthar and Mohammed Siraj before India declared their innings on 564 for 8.
“He was just fantastic,” Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus said of Saleem. “If you come here and you take six wickets in extreme heat against high-quality batting, that goes very well – not just for him as a bowler, but for us as a side. He just held a length. And I think if you hold a length, you’re in the game the whole time.”Also Read
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