Virat Kohli calls Shahbaaz Nadeem 'a quality bowler' after SA debut

Indian team took only 12 deliveries to wrap South Africa’s second innings on Day 4 as y won third Test by an innings and 202 runs at Ranchi on Tuesday, October 22. It was a dominant team effort by Indian side as y whitewashed Proteas 3-0. Debutant left-arm spinner Shahbaaz Neem took four wickets in Test match along with an impressive run-out. Speaking at post-match press conference, Skipper Virat Kohli praised Neem's performance and called him a very "skilful bowler"

'I am very happy for him'

Virat Kohli said, "I have played with Neem during my Under-19 cricket days and from that time we all knew that he is a skilful bowler. He possesses skill which a conventional left bowler has, his seam position is very good, bowls at a good pace. When you have taken around 420 wickets in first-class cricket, you come and bowl four maiden overs in your debut Test match, that skill of bowling consistently in same area, I think he has started really well and he bowled with composure".

"In life, things take a sudden change, two days ago he was in Kolkata and n suddenly he was included in team. He remained t out with bat, contributed with a brilliant run-out and bowled well in both innings, I am very happy for him because I kw him since a long time, and of course, he is a quality bowler. To come as a replacement in a spin attack like ours alrey shows his quality in spin bowling. I think he will furr build his career from here onwards".

'Extremely impressed when he got his first wicket'

Coach Ravi Shastri hailed left-arm spinner Shahbaz Neem's performance, who me his debut at 30 in final Test and took four wickets. "Extremely impressed. Yesterday when he got his first wicket, I was saying If Bishan Singh Bedi was watching, he would've said 'cheers young man'. It was a spinner's delight. To watch it from outside was classical", he said. 

"(He has) 420 plus wickets (in domestic cricket), guy has put in yards, about time he gets distance. Gl he finished off game. In front of his home crowd...what was remarkable was way he started. re were nerves, first three overs were maidens. Every ball was on spot. That's because of his experience", he ded. 

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Shahbaz Neem's career

Shahbaz Neem h received his maiden Test cap ahe of final Test match of series after chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yav h complained of left shoulder pain a day before match. Shahbaz Neem has been in phemenal form in domestic tourney and earned his call-up to national side - a reward for his consistent performances. Shahbaz Neem h represented Bihar U-14 side and Indian U-19s. He currently plays for Jharkhand.

left-arm spinner has grabbed a lot of eyeballs in Indian Premier League (IPL). Shahbaz Neem h represented Delhi Daredevils from 2011 to 2018. He was bought by Sunrisers Hyderab in 2019 edition. So far, spinner has played 106 first-class matches and 98 list-A games where he has 401 and 143 scalps respectively. Shahbaz Neem was leing wicket-taker in 2015-16 and 2016-17 seasons of Ranji Trophy (51 & 56). Last year while representing Jharkhand in a Vijay Hazare match against Rajasthan, Shahbaz Neem set a new List-A cricket record where he took eight wickets for ten runs from ten overs. 

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