'With all the talk about "Babar"...': R Ashwin reacts to Kamran Ghulam's century on debut vs England

NEW DELHI: India’s ace 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 at Multan.
Ashwin, known for his thoughtful takes on cricket, acknowledged the pressure on Ghulam as he entered the spotlight, especially on the back of Babar Azam’s omission from the rest of the England series.
Ashwin wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “With all the talk about ‘Babar,’ spare a thought for Kamran Ghulam, who walks into a storm and makes a hundred,” lauding the debutant for his composed innings.

Coming in as the replacement for 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 ton came at a crucial time for Pakistan, who found themselves in a spot of bother early on after losing Abdullah Shafique (7) and Shan Masood (3) cheaply.
Pakistan opted to bat after winning the toss, but the English bowlers, especially Jack Leach and Matthew Potts, made early inroads to keep the hosts on the back foot.

However, Ghulam displayed remarkable composure, anchoring the innings with a steady knock. He reached 102 in 192 balls, featuring nine boundaries and a six, showing his ability to both absorb pressure and play attacking strokes when needed.
Ghulam’s century holds historical significance as well. He became the 11th player to score a debut ton on Pakistani soil and the second at Multan, following Taufiq Umar’s 104 against Bangladesh in 2001.
Pakistan will be hoping Ghulam’s heroics set the foundation for a big first-innings total as they look to level the series after England’s victory in the first Test.