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Anshul Kamboj struggled with a lack of speed and control in the Manchester Test against England, conceding 89 runs for 1 wicket in his 18 overs.
Anshul Kamboj (left) took one wicket on Test debut. (AP Photo)
The legendary Kapil Dev has backed young Anshul Kamboj after his much-criticised debut at Old Trafford in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy against England. As the Haryana and Chennai Super Kings seamer was taken for plenty in a series of uninspired bursts with questions being raised over his fitness amidst dip in pace.
However, former India captain Kapil believes it is too soon to judge his capabilities and critics shouldn’t jump the gun on the 24-year-old.
“What do you expect from a debutant, that he should take 10 wickets? You have to assess his potential. If he’s good enough, he will bounce back. Everyone is nervous when playing their first game. The result may not be ideal, but I believe the ability is there, and that’s more important,” Kapil told reporters.
Despite only 25 first-class matches behind him, Kamboj was fast-tracked into the senior Indian Test squad as a backup seamer for the English tour following impressive performances for Haryana and India A.
Not initially part of the main squad, the right-arm pacer came in as cover for the injured Akash Deep and was handed his debut cap in Manchester.
The team management further reinforced their trust by handing Kamboj the new ball alongside spearhead Jasprit Bumrah’s from one end.
However, the young talent’s lack of readiness for top-level challenge was exposed by the Bazball brigade, as openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley hammered his first spell.
Kamboj did come back with the wicket of Duckett on 94 but finished the innings with disappointing figures of 1 for 89 off his 18 overs, going at an expensive economy rate of 4.90.
Even as India searched for inspiration in a collectively poor bowling effort and conceded a mammoth 669 all out, Kamboj was barely called upon by skipper Shubman Gill, who instead banked on his spinners – Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar – to provide him some control.
It remains to be seen whether the young seamer would be retained for the fifth and final Test of the series, starting July 31.
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses, features, live scores, results, stats and everything that’s cricket from all over the globe. Follow @cricketnext
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