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

India Dominate Sessions Despite Wicket Outflow

Looking to build a massive first-innings total, India resumed their innings with absolute intent on the second morning in New Chandigarh. The session proved to be an action-packed affair, filled with sharp bowling, missed review opportunities, and aggressive strokeplay. Ultimately, India march ahead despite Saleem’s strikes, Pant misses out on century, reaching a commanding 475 for 6 by the lunch break. Scoring at a brisk rate of 4.28 runs per over, the hosts added 107 runs in the 25 overs bowled during the morning session, ensuring they maintained their upper hand despite losing three key wickets.

Early New Ball Drama and Afghanistan’s Missed Opportunities

The morning began with high tension as Afghanistan opted for the second new ball in the second over of the day—the 89th of the innings. Allrounder Azmatullah Omarzai immediately extracted substantial seam movement and swing under the morning skies. He put India’s set batters under severe pressure from the outset. In a dramatic 89th over, Omarzai first trapped Shubman Gill in front of leg stump with a sharp delivery, followed by a delivery that appeared to kiss Rishabh Pant‘s bat on its way to the wicketkeeper. The Afghanistan players went up in unison for both appeals, but the on-field umpire remained unmoved.

Surprisingly, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s men decided against challenging either decision. At that juncture, Afghanistan still had one review remaining, making their hesitation a costly missed opportunity. Replays and tracking later suggested they could have enjoyed early breakthroughs had they shown more conviction in their appeals. Omarzai went unrewarded for a superb exhibition of swing bowling and ended the session wicketless despite putting in an admirable shift.

Gill and Pant Fuel the Run Rate

Once the initial threat of the new ball was negotiated, Rishabh Pant decided to take the attack to the opposition. After playing out a quiet maiden over against left-arm spinner Ziaur Rahman, Pant asserted his dominance in the spinner’s next over. Charging down the track twice, the dynamic left-hander collected two boundaries to break the shackles. Shubman Gill soon joined the action, executing a delicate cut shot to bring up India’s 400-run milestone.

Afghanistan’s pacers tried to alter their lengths, but India’s batters were quick to capitalize on any loose deliveries. When Mohammad Saleem replaced Ziaur Rahman, Gill welcomed him by hitting two consecutive boundaries—one off a full-length delivery and another off a short ball. The partnership looked poised to take the game completely away from the visitors, but Saleem would soon have his say.

Mohammad Saleem Strikes Back for Afghanistan

Despite conceding some early runs, Mohammad Saleem remained undeterred and stuck to his plans. He adjusted his length beautifully in the 96th over, pulling back his release point. The tactical change paid off immediately when Gill feathered an edge to the wicketkeeper just before the drinks break. Gill, who had looked extremely comfortable, was dismissed after adding 23 runs to his overnight score. Saleem’s persistent line and length finally broke the dangerous stand.

Saleem continued to pose questions to the incoming batters. In his subsequent over, he nearly induced a chop-on from Pant, who was looking to play aggressively. Dhruv Jurel joined Pant in the middle, and the duo continued to score quickly. Jurel pulled a short delivery from Saleem for a boundary to bring up India’s 450. However, Saleem had the final laugh on the very next delivery. Bowling a sharp, nipping-back delivery, Saleem beat Jurel’s defensive push as the batter decided to shoulder arms, only to see his off-stump disturbed. Saleem’s morning spell was expensive, conceding 42 runs in seven overs, but his ability to remove set batters kept Afghanistan in the hunt, taking his overall figures to 4 for 109.

Pant Falls Short of a Milestone

All eyes were on Rishabh Pant as he neared what would have been a well-deserved century. However, his innings was not without drama. In the 101st over, some lazy running between the wickets gave Afghanistan a clear run-out opportunity, but they failed to convert it, allowing Pant to survive. Unfortunately, Pant’s luck ran out two overs later when Afghanistan introduced spin for the first time in the morning session.

Looking to dominate the spin right away, Pant attempted to clear the long-off boundary. He miscued the shot, and the ball flew straight into the hands of the fielder at long-off. Pant was dismissed for a well-made 81, missing out on a golden opportunity to register a century. Despite the disappointment of missing the milestone, his aggressive knock set a strong platform for the lower-middle order.

Sundar and Suthar Guide India to Lunch

Following Pant’s dismissal, debutant Manav Suthar walked out to join Washington Sundar. Suthar survived an early scare when he miscued a shot off Hashmatullah Shahidi’s spin, but fortunately for him, the ball landed safely wide of the mid-on fielder. Suthar quickly composed himself and looked solid thereafter. Together with the experienced Washington Sundar, who remained unbeaten on 14, Suthar (9*) safely negotiated the remaining overs before lunch. The duo ensured there were no further casualties, guiding India to a strong position of 475 for 6 at the lunch break, ready to build on their lead in the afternoon session.