Rahul, Gill hit centuries as India dominate Afghanistan on opening day
A Historic Start in New Chandigarh
The cricketing landscape in India witnessed a historic moment as New Chandigarh hosted its inaugural men’s Test match. With temperatures soaring to a sweltering 40 degrees Celsius, India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat, anticipating that the surface would become increasingly difficult to bat on as the match progressed. His foresight, combined with a display of resilience and batting masterclass, saw India finish the opening day in a position of complete dominance at 368 for 3 against Afghanistan.
Early Struggles and Tactical Resilience
The morning session presented a stern test for the Indian openers. Afghanistan’s new-ball bowlers, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Saleem, extracted significant movement and uneven bounce from the surface. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal were forced to navigate a challenging spell where the ball often moved away from their bodies. Rahul, in particular, looked shaky early on, and he was fortunate to survive a big appeal in the 11th over off Ziaur Ahmed when the visitors chose not to review a missed edge.
Jaiswal, who had looked the more fluent of the two, eventually succumbed in the 12th over. Attempting to flick an inswinger from Mohammad Saleem, he edged the ball to the keeper, departing for 24. This brought B Sai Sudharsan to the crease, who immediately looked to change the momentum.
The Partnership and the Turning Point
As the new-ball swing dissipated, Sai Sudharsan flourished, scoring at a rapid pace and punishing any width provided by the bowlers. Alongside Rahul, who had weathered the storm of the opening hour to find his rhythm, the pair built a crucial 131-run partnership. Sai Sudharsan looked set for a maiden Test century but fell for a well-compiled 81, caught by a stunning one-handed effort from wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai off the bowling of Saleem.
Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi attempted to use his spin resources as the pitch began to grip, but the lack of consistency in line and length meant India rarely looked troubled. The occasional edge flew safely past the slip cordon or the keeper, highlighting a frustrating day for the Afghan fielders who missed critical opportunities, including a drop by Rahmanullah Gurbaz off debutant Nangeyalia Kharote.
A Masterclass from the Skipper
Shubman Gill, batting at his home ground, produced an imperious century—his 11th in the format. While Rahul had to battle through the early seam movement, Gill capitalized on a worn-down Afghan attack, particularly after the tea break. His innings was a showcase of classical stroke play, featuring 11 boundaries and a maximum as he controlled the tempo of the game.
Rahul eventually reached his 12th Test century with a flick off his pads, but fell shortly after, perishing for 100 on a loose shot off Ziaur. His dismissal marked the third time in his Test career that he has been out for exactly 100, placing him in rare, if unwanted, company in the record books.
Pant’s Late Flourish
Rishabh Pant joined Gill for the final hour, playing his 50th Test match. Initially measured, Pant eventually unleashed his trademark aggression against offspinner Abdul Malik, hitting three flat-batted sixes. He manipulated the field effectively, bringing up a 70-ball fifty on the penultimate delivery of the day. By the time play was called, Gill had reached his own century, and India stood in an unassailable position, leaving Afghanistan with a massive mountain to climb on day two.
