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- IND vs AFG Highlights, One-Off Test Match Day 1: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul hit centuries as India finish at 368/3 at Stumps
IND vs AFG Highlights, One-Off Test Match Day 1: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul hit centuries as India finish at 368/3 at Stumps
Rahul (100 off 165 balls) showed the value of defence while skipper Gill (103 batting off 143 balls) was intent-personified on a day when India decided to give a batting masterclass in Tests to an Afghanistan attack that was high on spirit but low on skill quotient.
The manner in which Gill batted, it seemed like he was playing a practice game.
The languid approach and the lazy elegance was on view as he held an already tired Afghan attack by the scruff of its neck, hitting 11 fours and a straight six. In his 41st Test, the Indian skipper now has 11 centuries.
The one who would rue missing out on a three figure mark is Sai Sudharsan (81 off 104 balls) despite getting two reprieves while Rishabh Pant was happy smashing three effortless sixes en route his unbeaten half-century off just 70 balls.
It is unlikely that India would bat more than a session and half on the second day before declaration and unleashing their spin troika on Afghanistan.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rahman serves it a bit too full, almost near the popping crease, outside off. Jaiswal offers no shot.
- KL Rahul 0 (6)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal 6 (6)
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Attacks the stumps and this is angled in, on a good length. Rahul keeps it out with a straight bat. Omarzai starts with a maiden.
The ball is consistently carrying to the keeper on the bounce. With a low bounce, the question arises, does the keeper need to stand a few steps ahead of his normal mark? Because one is bound to catch a faint edge that might not carry on the full.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Indecision! Drags the length back a bit, does Omarzai. Curving away, on a good length. Not that wide for the cut. Rahul thinks about going after it, but then bails out at the last moment.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Keeps it full and on the off stump, Rahul blocks it off by getting forward.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, The previous ball carried nicely, but this does not. Moving away in the air, on a length, KL lets it pass. A quizzical look at the surface by Rahul as the ball dies down and goes on the bounce to the keeper.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Much better! Floated up there by Omarzai and he finds a hint of away shape. This is just outside the off pole and Rahul tucks the bat behind the front pad to make the leave.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Starts on a good length, and the ball gathers pace after pitching. It is angled down leg and Rahul misses out on the tickle.
Azmatullah Omarzai will be bowling from the other end.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal 6 (6)
- KL Rahul 0 (0)
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, At 131.6 kph, on a good length, on middle. Jaiswal covers the line and is solid in defence.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Bowled on a length, swinging down leg. Jaiswal walks inside the line for the tickle but fails to lay any bat on it.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, FOUR! A good ball but equally well played. Very full by Rahman, tailing back in late, on middle. Jaiswal brings his bat out in front and presents the full face of the blade. Drives it to the left of mid off and it races away for the first four of the game.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Lack of bounce! A bit fuller, across the off stump. Yashasvi shoulders arms. The ball does not rise much and it is gathered on the bounce by the keeper.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Pushes it across the left-hander, on a nagging length. Jaiswal makes the leave.
Ziaur Rahman to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jaiswal and India are off the mark! A hint of inward shape back into the pads, on a good length. Jaiswal watchfully nurdles it behind square leg to the right of deep fine leg for a couple of runs.
Done with the national anthems, and we are all set to get going. It is a sparse crowd at the moment, but expect more spectators to filter in as the day progresses. The bell has been rung to signify the imminent start of play. A few final words from the Afghanistan captain, Hashmatullah Shahidi, in the team huddle as he gathers his players before they take the field. It will be the left-hand, right-hand combination of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul to open the innings for India. It will be the right-arm quick, Ziaur Rahman to deliver the first over of the game. Jaiswal will take strike. Two slips and a gully await. Let's go...
Before we get underway, the match officials and the two teams will line up for the national anthems. It will be Afghanistan's national anthem first, followed by that of India.
Afghanistan (Playing XI) - Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Afsar Zazai (WK), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote (On debut), Ziaur Rahman and Mohammad Saleem.
India (Playing XI) - KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar (On debut), Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna.
Hashmatullah Shahidi: "We wanted to bat as well as the wicket looks good. We need to play good cricket. We are ready for the challenge. We like challenges. We are well prepared for this game. We had a good preparation camp in Kabul. (On Richard Pybus) He's good, he's also a very positive person, his mindset is positive. We have three seamers and two spinning combinations.. We have one debutant - Nangeyalia Kharote."
The skipper of Afghanistan - Hashmatullah Shahidi says that they would have batted first as well. Adds that the toss is not in their hands, so the focus now is on playing good cricket and starting the match well. Shahidi acknowledges that his side does not get enough opportunities to play Test cricket, but insists they are ready for the challenge. He says the team is well prepared after a productive training camp back home and is looking forward to the contest. Hashmatullah says former coach Jonathan Trott played a huge role in Afghanistan's growth in Test cricket, but now it is time for Richard Pybus, and the team is excited about the new chapter. He describes the new coach as a positive influence and hopes the players can continue to learn and improve under his guidance. On team combination, Shahidi informs that Afghanistan have gone in with three seamers and two spinners, and there is a debut for Nangeyalia Kharote.
The captain of India - Shubman Gill opts to bat first, citing the hot, humid conditions, which will make the surface slow and low as the game goes on. Gill shares that it is a special feeling for him to captain India on home soil. Shubman reckons the preparations have been really good, they've had a good couple of days' rest, and the players are ready to go. Adds that they have got a few Test matches at home and they'll be looking to get the combinations right. Gill informs that Manav Suthar is making his debut.
At least at the outset, conditions do not appear overly threatening for batters. Barring some careless shot-making or an inspired spell from the bowlers, scoring runs should not be overly difficult. How the surface evolves over the five days, however, could end up having a significant bearing on the contest.
The ICC recently approved a trial of using pink balls in regular Tests, with prior agreement from both teams in bad light situations.
Finding his team languishing sixth in the WTC points table is a rude reality check for Gambhir after the high of defending the T20 World Cup in his last assignment three months ago.
Afghanistan: Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmanullah, Afsar Zazai (wk), Ikram Alikhil (wk), Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Bilal Sami, Qais Ahmed, Mohammed Saleem, Ziaur Rahman.
The scorching heat has already forced teams to modify their routines. During practice sessions, Indian players preferred taking SUVs to travel the short distance between the main stadium and the adjacent practice ground rather than walking under the harsh afternoon sun. Such scenes highlighted the severity of the conditions.
The weather could become a significant factor over the five days, testing endurance as much as skill. For India, the challenge goes beyond merely securing a victory. This Test is about identifying combinations, assessing future options and building momentum before more demanding assignments await. For Afghanistan, it presents another opportunity to measure their progress against one of the game's traditional powerhouses and show that they are capable of extending the contest far beyond what happened eight years ago.
Only KL Rahul from India's 2018 squad remains in the current side, while Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah are among the few survivors from their first encounter with the hosts. The disparity is reflected in the numbers as well. Afghanistan's entire batting line-up boasts a combined total of nine Test centuries, whereas this new-look Indian side has accumulated 39 hundreds.
Shahidi's men prepared with a camp in Jalalabad, but practice sessions can only simulate so much. Nevertheless, Afghanistan have shown in recent years that they are capable of competing with established teams and will be eager to prove that their Test journey has progressed significantly since the painful defeat in Bengaluru.
The competition for the No. 3 spot had narrowed down to Sai Sudharsan and Devdutt Padikkal, but Gambhir made it clear on Friday that Sudharsan would be given an extended run. The team management believes the left-hander deserves a fair opportunity to establish himself.
Jadeja's absence has opened another interesting debate. While his batting overseas continues to be a major asset, concerns over his declining effectiveness with the ball have prompted India to look ahead. Rajasthan left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and Vidarbha all-rounder Harsh Dubey have emerged as leading candidates. Suthar's classical action and ability to extract drift have impressed observers during training, while Dubey's batting ability makes him a more rounded package. The choice could offer a glimpse into the management's long-term thinking.
Still carrying the scars of a forgettable home Test season not too long ago, India enter the one-off Test against Afghanistan with more questions than answers despite remaining overwhelming favourites. The hosts are in the middle of a transition period under head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill, and this fixture provides an opportunity to experiment before sterner assignments arrive later in the year.
India's last home Test campaign ended in a humiliating 0-2 defeat against a well-prepared South African side, a result that exposed several vulnerabilities and forced the management to rethink combinations. That experience ensures Afghanistan will not be taken lightly despite the vast difference in experience and resources between the two sides.
The contrast with the previous meeting between the teams is stark. In Bengaluru in 2018, Afghanistan's resistance lasted barely two days as India wrapped up the contest with remarkable ease, claiming all 20 wickets in just two sessions on the second day. Eight years later, Hashmatullah Shahidi's men would hope to offer a much sterner challenge to an Indian side still searching for stability.
Rahul (100 off 165 balls) showed the value of defence while skipper Gill (103 batting off 143 balls) was intent-personified on a day when India decided to give a batting masterclass in Tests to an Afghanistan attack that was high on spirit but low on skill quotient.
The manner in which Gill batted, it seemed like he was playing a practice game.
The languid approach and the lazy elegance was on view as he held an already tired Afghan attack by the scruff of its neck, hitting 11 fours and a straight six. In his 41st Test, the Indian skipper now has 11 centuries.
The one who would rue missing out on a three figure mark is Sai Sudharsan (81 off 104 balls) despite getting two reprieves while Rishabh Pant was happy smashing three effortless sixes en route his unbeaten half-century off just 70 balls.
It is unlikely that India would bat more than a session and half on the second day before declaration and unleashing their spin troika on Afghanistan.
