- News
- Sports News
- Cricket News
- 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.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, Slows it down and it drops on the batter, full and on the off stump. Rahul smothers the spin by leaning forward.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, From around the wicket, darted in full and on middle. Rahul gets forward for the block.
Nangeyalia Kharote has been called back into the attack.
- Shubman Gill 12 (18)
- KL Rahul 76 (129)
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, An effort ball by Saleem, dug in short, over off. Shubman sways away and drops his wrists to let the ball go through to the keeper.
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, FOUR! Nice shot. A little too straight, on the pads and the length is full. Gill presses forward, gets his head right over the ball and flicks it to the right of mid on for a boundary.
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, The inside edge saves Gill. Tailing back into the right-hander, full and at the sticks. Shubman tries to force the drive down the ground with a straight bat. Just about ekes out an inside edge onto the front pad.
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Hits the nagging length, in and around the off stump. Gill defends it from the crease.
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Angled in on a length, outside the off stump. Gill covers the off stump and makes the leave.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Starts with a full ball, around off. Rahul gets low and plays it through point for a single.
- Shubman Gill 8 (13)
- KL Rahul 75 (128)
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Rapped on the pads, but turned down! Where is the impact? The keeper appealed with a lot of conviction. Hashmatullah Shahidi does not look as certain, but he has gone for the review. The length is dragged back a bit, around the off stump. Gill reaches out in front to smother the spin but fails to get to the pitch of the ball. The ball spins past the inside edge to catch him low on the front pad. No bat involved, but the ball is doing too much. It is going well past the leg stump on Ball Tracking. Afghanistan are left with only one review.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, At the sticks, full in length. Gill blocks it off.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, FOUR! Gets it through! A bit too full and width offered by Hashmatullah Shahidi. Gill climbs onto it as he drills it all along the ground between cover and mid off for his first boundary.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to KL Rahul, Stays full, on middle. Rahul makes room and angles the drive to the left of mid off. They cross.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Full and a bit quick, on off. Shubman knocks it down to long on for one.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Tossed up, full and on off. Gill brings his bat out in front of the front pad and clips it to mid-wicket.
- Shubman Gill 3 (8)
- KL Rahul 74 (127)
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, A bit of reverse on this ball, on a good length, on off. Gill jabs it off the back foot to the right of mid on and keeps the strike with a single.
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, This is on a back of a length, in the channel on off. Shubman dabs it to point.
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Drags the length back, over the off stump. Gill pats it to cover from the crease.
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Tailing back in, on a good length, on middle. Shubman Gill taps it down the strip with a straight bat.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Angled in at the hips, on a back of a length. KL helps it down to deep fine leg and crosses over.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Saleem bangs it in short, over middle. Rahul swivels and gets his hands high for the pull. He connects well but can't beat the man at mid-wicket.
- Shubman Gill 2 (4)
- KL Rahul 73 (125)
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Full and attacking the front pad, Gill defends it out.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to KL Rahul, Looped up, on middle. Rahul pushes this to long on to pick up a single.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to KL Rahul, That kept low. Turning back in sharply, on a nagging length, on middle. Rahul rocks back and does well to adjust to the low bounce. He watchfully keeps it out.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to KL Rahul, Fired onto the pads, KL Rahul rocks back and nudges this towards mid-wicket.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Fuller on middle and leg, Shubman Gill flicks this to long on for a single.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Tossed up, on the pads, Shubman Gill tucks this to short fine leg.
- KL Rahul 72 (122)
- Shubman Gill 1 (1)
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Back of a length, around off, KL Rahul blocks this off his back foot.
Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Hard length, on middle and off, Shubman Gill tucks this towards the right of mid on for a single to get off the mark.
Indian skipper, Shubman Gill, walks out at 4.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! A sharp grab from the keeper and Mohammad Saleem has broken through for Afghanistan. Bowled by going wide on the crease on the around-the-wicket angle. This is very full, outside off. A bit of a late decision by Sudharsan to go for the drive and he hurriedly gets his bat down. The ball behind goes off an outside edge, where the keeper, Afsar Zazai dives to his left and holds onto it. Earlier in the session, we saw a similar ball go through the keeper and the first slip but not this time. The 139-run stand has been broken and India are now 180/2.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Slanting in at the hips. Rahul glances it down to deep fine leg and rotates the strike.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, Dug in short, over off. Sai gets on top of the bounce and angles it in front of backward point for a quick single.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Short and wide on off, Rahul slaps it to deep point and gets to the other end.
More on the squad announcement - There is a significant absentee from India's ODI squad for the Afghanistan series, with Virat Kohli ruled out due to an injury. In his place, Yashasvi Jaiswal has been drafted into the squad.
- Sai Sudharsan 80 (102)
- KL Rahul 70 (119)
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Sai Sudharsan, Indecision! Drifting in, on a good length, in line with the off stump. Sudharsan thinks about letting it go initally but then just about jams it out.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to KL Rahul, Shorter and slower, on middle. This is pushed to long on for another single.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Sai Sudharsan, Speared in at the pads, Sai nurdles this full ball behind square leg to turn the strike over.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to KL Rahul, Turning back into the pads, on a good length. Rahul hops back and wrists it through mid-wicket for a run.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to KL Rahul, Flat and short, on middle. Rahul blocks it from the crease.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Sai Sudharsan, Bowled on a length, on off. Sai chops it through point for a single.
- KL Rahul 68 (116)
- Sai Sudharsan 78 (99)
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Attacking the stumps, on a length, Rahul defends it watchfully.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, Hits the hard length, on off. Sai stands tall and slices it to the left of deep third. They cross.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Fuller and tailing back in, on off. KL drops it with soft hands in front of cover and hurries to the other end.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, On the shorter side, on off. Rahul rises with the bounce for the block.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, This is on a hard length, over off. Sudharsan runs it down to deep third for a single.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, A prolonged appeal for LBW, but it is turned down. Mohammad Saleem looks convinced and Hashmatullah Shahidi takes the review. A bit of reverse on return to the attack for Saleem. Angled in a good length, on middle. Rahul brings his bat out in front for the block but is beaten on the inside edge to be hit on the back thigh. The ball goes away on the off side and the batters cross over. Oh, there is a spike on the UltraEdge, confirming the inside edge. Rahul is saved by the inside edge as the Ball Tracking shows that the ball would have crashed into the top of the leg stump.
- Sai Sudharsan 76 (97)
- KL Rahul 66 (112)
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Sai Sudharsan, Looped up, on off. Sai firms the drive but can't get it past the man at cover.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Sai Sudharsan, Slower through the air and the length stays full, on middle. Sudharsan defends with the bat close to the front pad.
Hashmatullah Shahidi to Sai Sudharsan, Full and pushed through on middle. Sudharsan is solid in defence.
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.
