India march ahead despite Saleem’s strikes, Pant misses out on century

A Morning of High Drama in New Chandigarh

The second morning of the Test match in New Chandigarh provided plenty of entertainment as India continued to press their advantage against a resilient Afghanistan side. While the hosts reached a commanding 475 for 6 by the lunch break, the session was defined by the clinical bowling of Mohammad Saleem and the dismissal of key batters, including the aggressive Rishabh Pant.

India added 107 runs in 25 overs during the morning session, maintaining a healthy run rate of 4.28. Despite losing three crucial wickets, the team remains in a dominant position with bowling all-rounders Washington Sundar and Manav Suthar currently tasked with building on the total.

Mohammad Saleem’s Impactful Spell

Mohammad Saleem emerged as the standout performer for Afghanistan. While the new ball was utilized effectively by Azmatullah Omarzai—who troubled the batters with seam and swing—it was Saleem who eventually broke through the defenses of the Indian middle order. Saleem claimed 4 wickets for 109 runs, proving to be the primary thorn in India’s side despite being expensive at times.

The Afghan skipper, Hashmatullah Shahidi, displayed tactical awareness by introducing spin late in the session, which immediately yielded results. This shift in momentum caused hesitation among the Indian batters and provided a glimpse into how the pitch might behave as the game progresses.

The Dismissals: Pant and Gill Depart

The morning started with high tension as Afghanistan took the new ball in just the second over. Omarzai was unlucky not to secure early wickets, as two close appeals against Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant were turned down by the umpire. Afghanistan, holding onto only one review, opted not to challenge the decisions, a move they might reflect on given the narrow nature of the calls.

Shubman Gill, who looked solid early on, managed to push India past the 400-run mark. However, his resistance ended when Saleem pulled back his length, inducing an edge to the wicketkeeper. Gill added 23 runs to his overnight score before departing.

Rishabh Pant, known for his explosive style, looked set for a big score. After charging down the track and picking up boundaries against Ziaur Rahman, he continued his aggressive approach. However, Pant’s luck eventually ran out. After surviving a run-out scare due to some casual running, he eventually fell while attempting to clear the boundary against Shahidi, holing out at long-off for 81. It was a frustrating end for the left-hander, who missed out on what would have been a well-deserved century.

Stability Under Pressure

Dhruv Jurel also found himself back in the pavilion before the break, falling to a sharp delivery from Saleem that nipped back to clip the top of the off-stump. Shortly after, the focus shifted to the debutant Manav Suthar and Washington Sundar.

Suthar displayed composure at the crease, surviving a minor scare when a miscued shot off Shahidi flew narrowly wide of the mid-on fielder. Together with Sundar, Suthar managed to see off the remaining overs, ensuring that India headed into the lunch interval without further damage.

Looking Ahead

As the match heads into the afternoon session, the pitch in New Chandigarh continues to offer something for both the seamers and the spinners. For India, the primary goal remains to bat deep and set a target that puts the match firmly out of reach. For Afghanistan, the challenge will be to clean up the tail quickly and capitalize on any further assistance the surface offers to their spinners.

The current score of 475 for 6 serves as a strong foundation for India, but the game is far from over. With the ball turning and the Afghan bowlers finding a consistent rhythm, the second half of the day promises to be just as compelling as the first.