The young pacer claimed 6 for 140 on an unresponsive pitch, earning praise from both camps despite Afghanistan falling far behind in the Test.

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Mohammad Saleem produced a remarkable display of fast bowling to claim 6 for 140 against India in New Chandigarh, emerging as Afghanistan’s standout performer in an otherwise difficult outing for the visitors.

Playing only his second Test, Saleem consistently bowled at speeds around 140kph and maintained disciplined lines and lengths despite scorching conditions and a pitch that offered little assistance to seamers. His victims included Shubman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, Manav Suthar and Mohammed Siraj as India eventually declared on 564 for 8.

Saleem’s effort drew praise from Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus, who hailed the pacer’s ability to challenge a world-class batting lineup under demanding circumstances. India allrounder Washington Sundar also lauded the spell, describing it as high-quality bowling that required both skill and resilience.

While Saleem impressed with the ball, Afghanistan were left ruing missed opportunities in the field. Several costly DRS errors allowed Indian batters to survive close calls, with both Gill and Rishabh Pant benefiting from reviews that were not taken. Earlier in the innings, KL Rahul had also escaped a dismissal before going on to score a century.

The batting unit then failed to build any momentum in reply, ending the day at 113 for 5 and still trailing by 451 runs. With India firmly in control of the contest, Saleem’s six-wicket haul remained the lone highlight for Afghanistan.

Despite the team’s struggles, the 24-year-old fast bowler showcased his potential on the international stage, delivering a performance that offered a glimpse of Afghanistan’s future pace-bowling prospects.