Rahul, Gill hit centuries as India dominate Afghanistan on opening day
A Historic Day in New Chandigarh
The dawn of a new Test venue is always a special occasion in Indian cricket, and New Chandigarh marked its men’s Test debut in sizzling fashion. With temperatures soaring to a grueling 40 degrees Celsius, India’s newly-appointed captain, Shubman Gill, had no hesitation in opting to bat first. The decision was rooted in the expectation that the surface would deteriorate and offer significant turn as the match progressed. What followed on day one was a demonstration of batting authority, highlighted by a classic narrative of grit, luck, and eventual dominance as India cruised to a formidable 368 for 3 by stumps.
The Early Battle Against Swing and Uneven Bounce
Despite the scorching heat, Afghanistan’s opening bowling pair of Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Saleem found immediate encouragement. They extracted uneven bounce and subtle movement off the pitch, challenging the Indian openers with disciplined back-of-a-length deliveries. KL Rahul, returning to the opening slot, looked noticeably rusty during the opening hour. He repeatedly reached for deliveries far from his body, struggling to find his timing. By the end of the tenth over, Rahul had labored to just 16 runs off 34 balls.
At the other end, Yashasvi Jaiswal looked far more fluent. The young left-hander pounced on fuller deliveries to race to 20 off 26 balls. However, the game’s first major talking point arrived in the 11th over. Facing Ziaur Ahmed, Rahul flashed at a wide delivery, generating a loud appeal from the bowler and wicketkeeper. Believing there was no edge, Afghanistan opted not to review the on-field not-out decision. Replays later confirmed a distinct edge, representing a massive reprieve for Rahul on 16.
Afghanistan’s disappointment was momentarily tempered in the very next over. Jaiswal, after leaning into an elegant cover drive, attempted to flick a Saleem inswinger drifting down leg. Instead of the vacant leg side, the ball found the edge and sailed straight to keeper Afsar Zazai. Jaiswal departed for a brisk 24 off 32 balls, giving Mohammad Saleem his maiden Test wicket and leaving India at a brief spot of bother.
Sai Sudharsan and Rahul Build the Foundation
With the departure of Jaiswal, B Sai Sudharsan joined Rahul. As the initial shine wore off the new ball, the pitch became far more docile, and the bounce grew predictable. Sudharsan capitalized immediately, striking three elegant boundaries within his first 15 deliveries. Together with Rahul, who gradually found his rhythm by playing with softer hands and leaving balls outside the off stump, the duo began to rebuild the innings.
The partnership was not without its share of drama. In the 35th over, Sudharsan stepped down the track to Ziaur Ahmed, only to edge a tentative defensive stroke. Fortunately for the left-hander, the ball dissected the gap between keeper Zazai and first slip. Afghanistan’s spin department, led by captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, bowled with admirable control. Shahidi kept his speeds below 80 kph and used drift to pose questions, though clear-cut chances remained elusive.
Debutant spinner Nangeyalia Kharote almost made an instant impact, inducing a thin edge off Sudharsan with his fourth delivery in Test cricket. However, Rahmanullah Gurbaz dropped a tough, diving one-handed chance at first slip. Sudharsan’s fluent innings of 81 eventually came to an end just as he looked set for a debut century. Attempting an expansive drive off Saleem, the ball flew off the edge, where Afsar Zazai completed a stunning, one-handed catch diving to his left. The crucial second-wicket stand of 131 runs was broken, leaving India at 155 for 2.
Rahul and Gill Subdue the Visitors
Shubman Gill joined Rahul, and the two began to assert complete dominance over a tiring Afghan bowling unit. Kharote and part-timer Abdul Malik struggled with their lines, frequently straying onto the pads. Gill, in particular, was ruthless after the tea session. While Rahul’s innings was a masterclass in survival and patience, Gill’s knock was pure elegance, characterized by trademark punches, cuts close to his body, and authoritative drives.
In the 61st over, Rahul flicked a full delivery off his pads to bring up his 12th Test century—a gritty milestone that justified his survival earlier in the day. However, the celebrations were short-lived. Just one ball after reaching his hundred, Rahul played a loose, lazy waft away from his body off Ziaur, hitting it straight to short extra cover. It marked the third time in Rahul’s Test career that he was dismissed for exactly 100, placing him joint-second on the all-time list behind England’s legendary Len Hutton.
Pant’s Fireworks and Gill’s Centurial Finish
Rishabh Pant, playing in his landmark 50th Test, joined his captain with India well-placed. Initially, Pant exhibited unusual restraint, adapting to the defensive field sets. However, the shackles were broken in the 68th over when Abdul Malik served up successive half-trackers. Pant gleefully flat-batted three massive sixes over the midwicket boundary, igniting the New Chandigarh crowd.
At the other end, Gill continued his majestic run, accumulating 11 boundaries and a six. He brought up his 11th Test century in the 83rd over, flicking Saleem to square leg just minutes before stumps. Rather than taking the second new ball, Afghanistan preferred to bowl out the day with the soft, older ball. This allowed Pant to comfortably manipulate the field, bringing up his own half-century off 70 deliveries on the second-to-last ball of the day. By the time stumps were drawn, India finished on a commanding 368 for 3, leaving Afghanistan with a mountain to climb on day two.
