India vs Afghanistan: Yamin Ahmadzai believes Test cap is most important in cricketer’s life

"Well, this was a dream which has come true for our nation. It was enjoyable, but a little stressful."

Afghanistan have bounced back strongly in the final session of their debut Test against India at  M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. They were put under pressure early on by Shikhar Dhawan  who scored century before lunch to enter the record books. However, in the second session Yamin Ahmadzai got the important wicket of Dhawan becoming the first Afghanistan bowler to take Test wicket.

In the post match presentation Ahmadzai spoke about the importance of test in cricketers’ life and also admitted that the match was stressful in the beginning.

“Well, this was a dream which has come true for our nation. It was enjoyable, but a little stressful. Nevertheless, playing against India, the number one team, was a good experience. Still there are four days to go and we will try to do our best,” Ahmadzai said.

“Getting a Test cap is the most important thing in cricketers’ lives. It is same for me as well. I cannot express it in words. There was excitement when we walked onto the field, but also were nervous,” he said.

Afghanistan were heavily depending on their spinners to turn things for them. However, the first session was hard for them with Dhawan on a rampage. Ahmadzai later added about how Rashid Khan was trying very hard in the first session.

“Our bowlers especially Rashid was trying too much in the first session, but he bowled wicket-to-wicket on a pitch which began to grip in the last session. That is the reason why we came back strongly. Our bowlers picked five wickets,” he said .

In the last session, Afghanistan picked up five wickets including that of centurion Murali Vijay (105), KL Rahul (54), captain Ajinkya Rahane (10), Cheteshwar Pujara (35) and Dinesh Karthik (4). Ahmadzai was the pick of the bowler as he ended the day with decent figures of 13-6-32-2. Afghanistan will look to restrict India under 400 on Day 2.