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

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

'I am very happy for him'

Virat Kohli said, "I have played with Nadeem during my Under-19 cricket days and from that time we all knew that he is a skilful bowler. He possesses the 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 the 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 then suddenly he was included in the team. He remained not out with the bat, contributed with a brilliant run-out and bowled well in both the innings, I am very happy for him because I know him since a long time, and of course, he is a quality bowler. To come as a replacement in a spin attack like ours already shows his quality in spin bowling. I think he will further build his career from here onwards".

'Extremely impressed when he got his first wicket'

Coach Ravi Shastri hailed left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem's performance, who made his debut at 30 in the 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 the outside was classical", he said. 

"(He has) 420 plus wickets (in domestic cricket), the guy has put in the yards, about the time he gets the distance. Glad he finished off the game. In front of his home crowd...what was remarkable was the way he started. There were no nerves, first three overs were maidens. Every ball was on the spot. That's because of his experience", he added. 

READ | Virat Kohli praises Rohit's performance in his debut series as opener

READ | Shahbaz Nadeem gets his maiden Test wicket with a beautiful delivery

Shahbaz Nadeem's career

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

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

READ | Spinner Shahbaz Nadeem receives his Test cap, all set to make debut

READ | Shahbaz Nadeem added to India’s squad for Ranchi Test against SA