India march ahead despite Saleem’s strikes, Pant misses out on century
India Steady Despite Wicket Inroads in New Chandigarh
The second morning in New Chandigarh saw a fascinating battle between bat and ball as India continued to build their massive first-innings total. India marched forward on the second morning despite losing three wickets, including those of set batters Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant. Scoring at a brisk run rate of 4.28, the home side added 107 runs in 25 overs during the session. By the time the players walked off for lunch, India was strongly positioned at 475 for 6, with two competent bowling allrounders steadying the ship.
For Afghanistan, right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Saleem was the standout performer, ending the session with impressive figures of 4 for 109. Azmatullah Omarzai also bowled with immense discipline, utilizing the second new ball exceptionally well, though he was desperately unlucky to finish the morning without a wicket to his name. As the pitch began to offer turn later in the session, Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi introduced spin, which eventually yielded crucial breakthroughs.
Early Drama and Missed Opportunities
The day commenced with Afghanistan opting for the second new ball in the second over of the morning. Both Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Saleem immediately found lateral movement, generating noticeable seam and swing under the morning skies. Omarzai was particularly threatening and created two massive moments of drama in the 89th over of the innings.
First, Omarzai trapped Shubman Gill in front of leg stump with a sharp delivery, followed immediately by a delivery that seemed to kiss Rishabh Pant’s bat on the way to the wicketkeeper. On both occasions, the on-field umpire ruled in favor of the batters. Surprisingly, Afghanistan chose not to challenge either decision, despite having one review remaining in their bank at the time. Replays suggested they might have missed a golden opportunity to break the partnership much earlier.
Pant and Gill Counter-Attack
Having survived the early scare, Rishabh Pant decided to break the shackles. After playing out a quiet maiden over against left-arm spinner Ziaur Rahman, Pant aggressively charged down the track twice in Zia’s next over, dispatching him for two boundaries. At the other end, Shubman Gill looked in fine touch, bringing up India’s 400-run milestone with a crisply executed cut shot.
When Saleem replaced Ziaur Rahman in the attack, Gill continued his aggressive approach. Saleem struggled initially with his line and length, offering full and short deliveries which Gill gladly punished for two more boundaries. The partnership looked poised to take the game completely away from Afghanistan.
Saleem’s Persistence Pays Off
Despite being expensive early on, Mohammad Saleem remained undeterred. He gradually adjusted his length, pulling it back in the 96th over to find the breakthrough. His persistence was rewarded when Shubman Gill nicked a back-of-a-length delivery through to the wicketkeeper just before the drinks break. Gill departed after adding 23 runs to his overnight score, ending a vital contribution.
Saleem continued to threaten. In his very next over, he almost induced an inside edge from Pant onto the stumps. Although Pant and Dhruv Jurel managed to punish Saleem’s shorter deliveries—including a pulled four from Jurel that brought up India’s 450—the bowler had the last laugh. The very next ball after Jurel’s boundary, Jurel decided to shoulder arms to a delivery that nipped back sharply, shattering the top of off stump. Saleem’s morning spell of seven overs yielded 42 runs but crucially accounted for two settled Indian batsmen.
Heartbreak for Pant as Spin Makes an Impact
Rishabh Pant looked set for a magnificent hundred but experienced a lapse in concentration. In the 101st over, Pant survived a close run-out opportunity due to some lazy running between the wickets. Unfortunately for the dynamic left-hander, his luck ran out two overs later when Shahidi introduced spin for the first time in the day.
Looking to clear the boundary and close in on his century, Pant miscued a lofted shot off the spinner and holed out directly to the fielder at long-off. Pant departed for a well-made 81, missing out on a well-deserved milestone but leaving India in a highly commanding position.
Allrounders Navigate to Lunch
Following Pant’s dismissal, debutant Manav Suthar joined Washington Sundar at the crease. Suthar had a nervous moment early in his innings when he miscued a shot off Hashmatullah Shahidi’s bowling, but the ball fortunately flew wide of the mid-on fielder.
Aside from that brief scare, Suthar looked composed and comfortable against both pace and spin. Alongside the experienced Washington Sundar (14*), Suthar (9*) safely navigated the remaining overs before the lunch break, ensuring India suffered no further damage as they head into the afternoon session eyeing a massive first-innings total.
