Kuldeep’s extraordinary fielding skills injected an extra dose of excitement and intensity into the match, making onlookers admire his invaluable impact on the game.
Shahidi, Omarzai guide Afghanistan to a competitive total
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat first. The top order made a promising start but couldn’t capitalize on it. The skipper, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Azmatullah Omarzai notched up half-centuries. While Shahidi provided stability, Omarzai adopted an aggressive approach, forging a 121-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
Shahidi contributed 80 runs from 88 balls, while Omarzai hammered 62 runs from 69 deliveries. However, as the innings progressed, India’s bowlers began to pick up wickets more consistently in the latter stages, disrupting Afghanistan’s momentum and limiting them to 272/8 runs.
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Jasprit Bumrah had an excellent day, taking four wickets for 39 runs in his quota of 10 overs, while Hardik Pandya, celebrating his birthday, contributed with two wickets for 43 runs in 7 overs. Shardul Thakur and Kuldeep Yadav each picked up one scalp. However, Mohammed Siraj had a tough outing, going for 76 runs in his nine overs and taking just one wicket.
Kuldeep’s phenomenal catch
Kuldeep, who bowled exceptionally well, also showcased his potential on the field by taking an excellent catch. The incident unfolded during the first ball of the 49th over, when Bumrah delivered a short-of-a-length ball outside the off-stump. Rashid’s ambitious uppercut attempt was marred by a misjudgment of the change in pace, causing the ball to soar into the air.
Positioned at sweeper covers, Kuldeep swiftly moved to his left to take the catch, briefly fumbling it before regaining control on the second try, showcasing his alertness and composure in a crucial moment of the match.
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Here is the video:
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