'For all this talk of 'Babar'…': R Ashwin reacts to Kamran Ghulam's century on debut against England

R Ashwin and Kamran Ghulam (agency photos)

NEW DELHI: India's top spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took to social media to praise Pakistan's Kamran Ghulam, who marked his Test debut with a sensational century against England in the ongoing second Test in Multan.
Ashwin, known for his thoughtful views cricketacknowledged the pressure placed on Ghulam as he stepped into the limelight, particularly due to Babar Azam's omission from the remainder of the England series.
Ashwin wrote on

Replacing Babar, the 29-year-old became the 13th player in Pakistan's history to score a century on Test debut and the first to do so against England.
Ghulam's strike came at a crucial time for Pakistan, who found themselves in early trouble after losing Abdullah Shafique (7) and Shan Masood (3) cheaply.
Pakistan opted to bat after winning the toss, but the English bowlers, particularly Jack Leach and Matthew Potts, made early forays to keep the hosts on the defensive.

However, Ghulam showed remarkable composure and brought the final score of the innings with a steady strike. He reached 102 in 192 balls with nine boundaries and a six, showing his ability to absorb pressure and play attacking shots when required.
Ghulam's century is also of historical importance. After Taufiq Umar's 104 against Bangladesh in 2001, he became the eleventh player to score a first on Pakistani soil and the second in Multan.
Pakistan will hope Ghulam's heroics lay the foundation for a high first innings total as they look to level the series after England's win in the first Test.