BANGALORE, March 27: Pakistan’s workhorse Danish Kaneria has gained in confidence after his five-wicket haul in the first innings of the Bangalore Test against India on Sunday.

“It does help when you pick up five wickets, it has always been like that for me and tomorrow I am going to try more than a 100 per cent to help my side achieve victory,” said the leg-spinner.

Kaneria returned figures of 5-127 in 29 overs of which seven were maiden and among his victims were Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and captain Saurav Ganguly.

“I deceived him with a googly,” he said of the Indian

skipper who was stumped by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal as the batsman’s poor run continued.

With five wickets under his belt, Kaneria is now hoping that the wicket at the Chinnaswamy Stadium helps the bowlers on Monday. “I think it should offer help, although the ball today was not spinning much.”

“After bowling so many overs my fingers had begun to bleed but I am fine now, there is nothing to worry about for tomorrow is the big day and I hope that luck also would favour us, for it counts too.”

He said that the target Pakistan had set for India to chase was not an easy one but he was wary of the batting might of the home side. “Dravid, Sachin and Sehwag are all in good nick, so we will have to work out a way to get them.”

Opinion

Editorial

Sustainable path?
Updated 13 Jun, 2026

Sustainable path?

The FY27 budget is the first clear signal that the government is ready to transition from stabilisation to growth.
Prioritising education
13 Jun, 2026

Prioritising education

THOUGH the improvement in the country’s literacy rate may be slight, as highlighted by the Economic Survey, it ...
Poverty’s rise
13 Jun, 2026

Poverty’s rise

AS attention turns to the government’s plans for the coming fiscal year, one set of figures deserves particular...
A difficult story
Updated 12 Jun, 2026

A difficult story

Unless productivity becomes the dominant target of economic policy, Pakistan will continue to oscillate between crises and fragile recovery.
Rough waters
12 Jun, 2026

Rough waters

AMONGST the key potential triggers for fresh conflict in South Asia is water. The Indian state is behaving in an...
Politicised football
12 Jun, 2026

Politicised football

ALMOST three-and-half years since Lionel Messi led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory, the latest edition of...