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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.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, WIDE! Bouncer, down the leg side. Sai Sudharsan sits underneath it. The ball is deemed a bit too high by the umpire as he calls it a wide.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, Full and across the batter, on off. Sai Sudharsan blocks this off his front foot.
- KL Rahul 23 (54)
- Sai Sudharsan 15 (16)
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Good length, on off, KL Rahul rises with the bounce and punches this to short cover.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Azmatullah Omarzai comes around the stumps, bowls it on a length, in the line of the sticks. Sai Sudharsan gets it tickled to fine leg for a single.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, FOUR! Third boundary already for Sai Sudharsan. A touch wayward from Omarzai as he dishes this on a good length but down the leg side. Sai Sudharsan flicks this through the square leg region for a boundary.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Short and around off, Sai Sudharsan cuts this through point and takes a couple.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Back of a length, drifting down the leg side. KL Rahul gets inside the line and flicks this through square leg for one.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Good length, around off, KL Rahul blocks this to mid on.
It is very hot out in the middle. The two batters quickly replenish themselves with fluids between overs.
- Sai Sudharsan 8 (13)
- KL Rahul 22 (51)
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, FOUR! Another delightful flick by Sai. Saleem, just like Azmatullah in the previous over, ends the over by bowling a pitched-up delivery. Sai Sudharsan is up for it as he presses close to the pitch of the ball and flicks this past mid on to his left for a boundary.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, Pitched up, around off, Sai Sudharsan drives this right from the middle of his bat but straight to mid off.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Full toss, tailing back into the batter, Rahul flicks this to the right of mid on for a single.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Right in the channel, a touch wide of off, KL Rahul leaves it.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, Good length, around off, KL Rahul blocks this one close to his pads. This might have just hit his pad first as well, but Rahul took a step across the line. The UltraEdge confirms that it was pad first, but no one from the bowling side went up in an appeal. The Ball Tracking has the impact as umpire's call, but the ball would have crashed into the off stump.
Mohammad Saleem to KL Rahul, FOUR! Now this is what will make KL Rahul feel at home. On a length, around off, KL Rahul stands still, offers a straight bat and punches this well from the middle of his bat for an on-drive that races past the mid on fielder to his left for a boundary down the ground.
- Sai Sudharsan 4 (11)
- KL Rahul 17 (47)
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, FOUR! Sai is off the mark with a boundary. Pitched-up delivery, around middle and off, searching for a bit more swing, was Azmatullah Omarzai. Sai stays balanced at the crease and flicks this past the mid on fielder to his left for a boundary. The bat did tilt in Sai's hands, but he held onto it.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Good length, on off, Sai Sudharsan dabs this to backward point.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Omarzai goes full and across the batter. Sai Sudharsan gives it a good look and resists the temptation of flashing at it.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, A touch too straight this time from Azmatullah as he bowls this on the back of a length, around the hips of Sai. The batter offers a straight bat and blocks this out.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Hard length, around off, shaping away from the southpaw. Sai gets up on his toes and pushes this to covers. Even Sai is finding it difficult to time the ball well.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Short and on off, KL Rahul fends this through the square leg region for a single.
- Sai Sudharsan 0 (6)
- KL Rahul 16 (46)
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, A testing bouncer to end the over from Mohammad Saleem. Sai Sudharsan ducks down on this one. Back-to-back maidens for Afghanistan.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, Around that nagging length this time from the bowler. Sai Sudharsan hops back and pats this past the bowler's right.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, Good length, around off, Sai Sudharsan doesn't time this well and hits this from the inner half of his blade towards covers.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, Length dragged back here by Saleem, on the back of a length, Sai Sudharsan gets up on his toes and dabs this on the bounce to backward point.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, Saleem goes full, shaping it away from the batter around the off stump. Sai Sudharsan gets close to the pitch of the ball and blocks this out.
Some repair work needs to be carried out on the ball, with Richard Illingworth taking out the scissors to tidy it up.
Mohammad Saleem to Sai Sudharsan, Saleem bowls this on a length, around the pads. Sai Sudharsan tucks this to mid-wicket.
- KL Rahul 16 (46)
- Sai Sudharsan 0 (0)
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Third maiden for Azmatullah Omarzai. Good length, on middle and leg, KL Rahul gets behind the line of the ball and pushes this with a straight bat to mid on.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Now this was an inswinger from Azmatullah Omarzai, on a good length, around off. KL Rahul shuffles back and across and pushes this back to the bowler.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, A lot more effort behind this ball as Azmat bowls a bouncer, on off. KL Rahul lets it go unpoked.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Another one on the shorter side, on off from Azmatullah Omarzai. KL Rahul blocks this to the right of Nangeyalia Kharote at point.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, In the channel, around off with the ball shaping away from the batter. KL Rahul leaves it.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Azmatullah bends his back, bowls it back of a length, around off, away swing on offer. KL Rahul gets up on his toes and dabs this to point.
DRINKS! A good hour of play for Afghanistan, where they have kept things tight by not giving away a lot of runs and right at the stroke of the break, they've got the wicket of Yashasvi Jaiswal as well. It could have been way better for the visitors had they gone upstairs for the one Rahul edged. India will be looking to go into the Lunch break without any further hiccups. Sai Sudharsan walks out at number 3 for India.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal 24 (32)
- KL Rahul 16 (40)
Mohammad Saleem to Yashasvi Jaiswal, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Yashasvi Jaiswal has been strangled down leg, and Mohammad Saleem has his maiden Test wicket. Saleem drifts down leg, on a back of a length. Jaiswal gets on his toes and stays inside the line for the tickle. The ball takes a feather on its way to the keeper. Afsar Zazai moves to his right and snaffles it up. Yashasvi trudges off dejectedly. End of a 41-run opening stand.
Mohammad Saleem to Yashasvi Jaiswal, FOUR! Nicely done! Going away with the angle, on a length. Jaiswal makes use of the angle and plays the drive on the up to the left of backward point for his 5th boundary.
Mohammad Saleem to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Slightly too straight, on the pads, on a nagging length. Jaiswal is beaten on the flick on the inside edge to get hit on the pads.
Mohammad Saleem to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Down leg by Saleem. Jaiswal walks inside the line but fails to help it away.
Mohammad Saleem to Yashasvi Jaiswal, On the shorter side, on off. Jaiswal defends it from the crease.
Mohammad Saleem to Yashasvi Jaiswal, Full and straight at the sticks, Jaiswal brings his bat out in front and keeps it out.
- KL Rahul 16 (40)
- Yashasvi Jaiswal 20 (26)
Ziaur Rahman to KL Rahul, Pushes the length up now, outside off. Rahul shoulders arms.
Ziaur Rahman to KL Rahul, Missed out! Short and wide on off, Rahul is a bit late in committing himself to the cut. Toe-ends it to cover.
Ziaur Rahman to KL Rahul, Fuller and around off. Rahul leans forward for the block.
Ziaur Rahman to KL Rahul, A bit short, outside off. Rahul lets it be.
Ziaur Rahman to KL Rahul, On the off stump line, on a length, Rahul has just watchfully blocked this out.
A lot of woody noise as the ball got past KL Rahul to the keeper. Afsar Zazai did appeal at first but when the discussion was ongoing to take DRS, he gestured that he heard nothing at all. The replay on the giant screen will be an interesting watch. A bit surprising that Afghanistan did not opt for a review here as Rahmanullah Gurbaz was pleading with Hashmatullah Shahidi to send this upstairs. The replay shows a clear spike as the ball is next to the bat of Rahul and Afghanistan have missed an opportunity here. KL Rahul gets away with one.
Ziaur Rahman to KL Rahul, Was there an edge? The appeal was immediate from the bowler and those behind the bat. In the channel, not all that short for the cut. Rahul throws his hands at the ball but misses. There was a noise but the appeal is turned down. Hashmatullah Shahidi checks with the bowler and the keeper and eventually decides against the review.
Double change or change of ends for Azmatullah Omarzai? Neither as Ziaur Rahman gets an extended spell here.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal 20 (26)
- KL Rahul 16 (34)
Mohammad Saleem to Yashasvi Jaiswal, FOUR! Lovely shot! Going across the left-hander, on a short of a length. Jaiswal rocks on the back foot and punches it square of the wicket, through point. The fielder goes after it and slides, but the ball wins the race.
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.
