Afghanistan leg-spinner Rashid Khan (19 years old) has already become a sensation. He has carved an identity for himself in the game's shortest format. He is the youngest player to reach the landmark of 100 T20 wickets. This year IPL auction fetched him INR 9 crores. A lot was expected from him in Afghanistan's test match debut but he started off poorly and showed rustiness but as day-1 of historic India-Afghanistan test match progressed his performance improved which helped Afghanistan to claw their way back into the game.
At the start, 19 year old stalwart was taken to cleaners by his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Shikhar Dhawan. One of the major reason behind Dhawan getting better of Rashid Khan was because of inconsistency with which he bowled. He sprayed the ball all around the 22-yard strip as pitch map given below portrays. Not only did he served half-trackers but also error-ed in line. Off 29 balls that Rashid bowled to Dhawan 9 balls were pitched outside-leg. Against Rashid, Dhawan scored 53% of his runs through on-side. All this helped Dhawan to cruise his way to seventh test match hundred.
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| Source: bcci.tv |
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| Source: bcci.tv |
Against Murli Vijay who also slammed a hundred, Rashid bowled badly. To Vijay, he served full-tosses, half-volleys, half-trackers etc. Only a handful number of deliveries pitched on 5m -7m length which enabled Vijay to come on front foot and go on the back foot with ease. Vijay's 90% runs against Rashid came via on-side which accentuates that he over-bowled his googlies.
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| Source: bcci.tv |
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| Source: bcci.tv |
To Rahul, the length was better and the line "off or outside-off" but still Rahul scored 41% runs against Rashid through on-side.
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| Source: bcci.tv |
It was against Ajinkya Rahane (India's stand-in captain), Rashid bowled with most penetration. Rahane also became his maiden test match wicket. Of 11 bowls that he bowled to Rahane none pitched outside-leg, there was no short ball and neither a half-volley was served. It underlines Rashid's ability to learn quickly which is a hallmark of a very good sportsperson. The ball to dismiss Indian captain was bowled at a speed of 100.3 kmp/hrs, it pitched within the line and was hitting middle stump.
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| Source: bcci.tv |
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Source: bcci.tv
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Source: bcci.tv
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Throughout the day Rashid Khan kept on improving. Lines and length became more consistent and Indian batsmen were unable to pick the ball out of his hand. If he can carry his good work in day 2, then Afghanistan could well restrict India under a total of 400.
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