England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and Indian batsman Sarfaraz Khan engaged in good-natured banter on the second day of the fourth India vs. England Test in Ranchi on Saturday, February 24.
Sarfaraz attempted to sledge the England tailender by mentioning that he doesn’t know Hindi, only for Bashir to deliver a reply that gained widespread attention. England asserted their dominance in Ranchi on Day 2, thanks to a strong bowling display.
Starting their first innings at 302/7, they were eventually dismissed for 353. Bashir played a key role with figures of 4/84, supported by left-arm spinner Tom Hartley’s 2/47 as England limited India to 219/7 by stumps.
Before his notable batting performance, Bashir got out for 0 while attempting to slog Ravindra Jadeja. However, even during his brief stay, he added some amusement.
His lighthearted exchange with Sarfaraz in Hindi, as he took guard during the 103rd over of England’s innings, was caught on the stump mic and gained popularity on social media. Here’s how the interaction unfolded.
Sarfaraz Khan – Isko Hindi bhi nahi aati hai badhiya chalo (He doesn’t understand Hindi).
Shoaib Bashir – Thodi thodi aati hain Hindi (I know a bit of Hindi).
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Bashir’s time at the crease was brief, lasting only two balls as he offered a straightforward catch to backward point while attempting to attack Jadeja. However, he showcased excellence with the ball, securing the dismissals of Shubman Gill (38), Rajat Patidar (17), Jadeja (12), and the in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal (73).
“There’s clearly a huge amount of skill in what he does” – Root praises Bashir
Joe Root, the experienced England batsman, commended Bashir for his outstanding bowling display on the second day of the Ranchi Test against India. Root expressed that the 20-year-old showcased a considerable amount of skill with the ball in hand during his performance on Saturday.
“The way he bowls is a great little insight into his character and personality, he is quite cheeky and great fun to be around. There’s clearly a huge amount of skill in what he does, as he proved with the way he bowled for not just small spells but a long period of time,” Root said after end of Day 2.
“To be able to continually put pressure on some very good players of spin, I know the wicket was helpful at times, but he did an amazing job and it’s a great sign for English cricket moving forward. You do have to work in partnerships and Tommy (Hartley) was excellent alongside him, too,” he added.
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Bashir maintained pressure on India’s batters by consistently taking wickets throughout the second day of the Test match, delivering a total of 32 overs.
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