India march ahead despite Saleem’s strikes, Pant misses out on century
A Morning of High Drama in New Chandigarh
In a compelling start to the second day of the Test match in New Chandigarh, India march ahead despite Saleem’s strikes, Pant misses out on century. The hosts navigated a challenging morning session to reach 475 for 6 by lunch, maintaining their dominance even as the Afghan bowlers fought hard to claw their way back into the contest.
The Battle with the New Ball
The day began with Afghanistan taking the new ball as early as the second over. The move proved inspired, as both pace and swing were immediately evident. Azmatullah Omarzai operated with immense intensity, repeatedly beating the bat and challenging the set batters. Interestingly, Afghanistan had opportunities to claim early wickets, including two shouts for LBW against Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant that were turned down by the umpire. With only one review remaining, the tourists opted against challenging the decisions, a choice they may have looked back on with regret as the partnership continued to thrive.
Mohammad Saleem’s Impact
While Omarzai provided the control, it was Mohammad Saleem who became the primary thorn in India’s side. Saleem finished the session with figures of 4 for 109, demonstrating persistence despite being relatively expensive. He accounted for the key wicket of Shubman Gill, who looked set for a massive score before nicking to the wicketkeeper shortly after the drinks break. Gill, who had added 23 runs to his overnight total, played a vital hand in pushing India past the 400-run mark.
Rishabh Pant’s Aggressive Intent and Eventual Exit
Rishabh Pant was the focal point of the morning’s excitement. Playing with his trademark aggression, Pant took the attack to the bowlers, charging down the track to Ziaur Rahman and finding the boundary with ease. However, his innings was characterized by a mix of brilliance and near-misses. After surviving a run-out scare due to some casual running between the wickets, his luck finally ran out.
When Hashmatullah Shahidi introduced spin, Pant looked to capitalize by clearing the long-off boundary. Unfortunately for the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batter, he failed to time the ball effectively and holed out, falling for a well-made 81. His dismissal marked a pivotal moment in the session, depriving India of a potential century-maker and giving Afghanistan a much-needed lift.
The Lower Order Steady the Ship
Following the dismissal of Dhruv Jurel—who was bowled by a sharp inswinger from Saleem that clipped the top of his off-stump—the responsibility shifted to the lower order. Debutant Manav Suthar joined Washington Sundar at the crease. While Suthar experienced a brief moment of anxiety with a miscued shot off Shahidi that luckily flew wide of mid-on, he settled in comfortably thereafter.
Looking Ahead
As the players headed to lunch, India stood at 475 for 6 after scoring 107 runs in 25 overs at a healthy run rate of 4.28. Washington Sundar and Manav Suthar remain at the crease, tasked with building a tail-end partnership that could effectively bat Afghanistan out of the game. For the visitors, the challenge will be to continue extracting movement from the pitch and wrapping up the final four wickets as efficiently as possible when play resumes.
This session perfectly encapsulated the ebbs and flows of Test cricket, where momentum can shift on the back of a single spell or a bold tactical change. With the surface offering something for both the pacers and the spinners, the afternoon session promises to be just as intriguing.
