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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 KL Rahul, Missed out! Short and wide on off, there to be put away. Rahul presses back for the cut but is early into the shot and ends up chopping it beside the strip on the off side.
- Sai Sudharsan 54 (70)
- KL Rahul 52 (91)
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Full and on the pads, Sai Sudharsan flicks this to mid-wicket.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Quicker one, on the pads, Sai Sudharsan tucks this to short leg.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, FOUR! Third boundary on the trot for Sai Sudharsan. Flighted around off, Sudharsan comes quickly onto his front foot, hits the ball on the half-volley and drives this through the covers region for four more runs.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, FOUR! That brings up a 3rd Test half-century for Sai Sudharsan. Low full toss, around off, Sudharsan stands tall and works this through the mid-wicket region, and the ball has raced to the fence for four more runs. Sai has carried his form from IPL into the red-ball format.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, FOUR! This is well swept for a boundary. Flighted, onto the pads, Sai Sudharsan goes down on a knee and sweeps this behind square for a boundary towards deep backward square leg.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Fuller on the pads, Sai Sudharsan works this to mid-wicket.
- KL Rahul 52 (91)
- Sai Sudharsan 42 (64)
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Hard length, around off, KL gets onto his front foot and blocks this on the off side.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Azmat bowls it within the sticks, on middle and off, on a good length. KL Rahul blocks this one.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Slower one, around off, on a length. KL Rahul gets behind the line of the ball and keeps it out. This came off the inner half of Rahul's bat.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Good length, around the pads, KL Rahul nudges this to the deep mid-wicket region for a couple.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Azmatullah goes full and keeps this one within the sticks. Sai Sudharsan flicks this through mid-wicket's right for one.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, On a length, going across the batter, around his off stump. Sai Sudharsan leaves it.
- KL Rahul 50 (87)
- Sai Sudharsan 41 (62)
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, Tossed up, on the pads, KL Rahul strides out in front and dead bats it.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Fuller on the pads, Sai Sudharsan milks this through short fine leg for a single.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Tossed up, around off, Sai Sudharsan defends this off his front foot.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, FIFTY FOR RAHUL, his 21st half-century in Test cricket. Tossed up, around off, KL Rahul flashes, and the outside edge flies past the man at slip before he can even react. It goes down to the third man region for a single. After getting lucky with the edge not given and not reviewed, KL has done well to reach his half-century.
The ball has gotten scuffed up, and Richard Illingworth has called the Afghanistan captain over for a chat. A quick word between the two before the umpire takes out the scissors and trims a few loose threads from the seam.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, Tossed up, on the pads, KL Rahul tucks this towards short leg.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, Tossed up, around off, KL Rahul moves away to his leg side and drives this well but straight to extra cover.
- Sai Sudharsan 40 (60)
- KL Rahul 49 (83)
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Good length, around the pads, Sai Sudharsan flicks this close to his body and off his pads through square leg for a brace.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Short one, around off, KL Rahul swivels inside and keeps the hook down for a single to fine leg.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Back of a length, around off, KL Rahul pats this to point.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Good length, around the pads, Sai Sudharsan nudges this to fine leg for a single.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Hard length, around off, Sai defends this off his back foot.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Sai made that block look a bit awkward, to say the least. On a length, going across the batter. Sai Sudharsan doesn't move his feet much but blocks this. The ball bumps into the deck and hits the bat again. Sai Sudharsan gestures that this kept low.
- Sai Sudharsan 37 (56)
- KL Rahul 48 (81)
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Fired onto the pads, Sai Sudharsan flicks this through mid on for an easy single.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Quicker one, on the pads, Sai Sudharsan nudges this towards short leg.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, Tossed up, on off, KL Rahul gets close to the pitch of the ball, gently dabs this in front of cover-point and takes a sharp single.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Speared in at the pads, Sai Sudharsan milks this through square leg for one.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Fuller on the pads this time, Sai Sudharsan tucks this gently to the fine leg region for a couple.
Nangeyalia Kharote to Sai Sudharsan, Excitement around the bat! Where did that come off? Fuller, down the leg side. Sai Sudharsan goes for a sweep but misses completely. The ball lobs off Sai's forearm and drops to the left of the man at short leg, who was ducking to get out of the way.
- KL Rahul 47 (80)
- Sai Sudharsan 33 (51)
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Azmatullah goes back of a length, and bowls it on middle and leg, KL Rahul tucks this to short mid-wicket.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Pitched-up delivery, around off, KL Rahul presses onto his front foot and plays the off-drive well but close to mid off who fields it.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Full and around off, KL Rahul drives this towards covers.
Azmatullah Omarzai to KL Rahul, Back of a length, around off, KL Rahul hops back into the crease and punches this through the covers region for a couple. This was destined for the fence, but Ziaur Rahman got around to his right and dived to save a couple for his side.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Back of a length, around off, Sai Sudharsan gets up on his toes and punches this through backward point for a single.
Azmatullah Omarzai to Sai Sudharsan, Good length, around off, Sai Sudharsan defends this close to his body.
It will be pace from the other end. Here is Azmatullah Omarzai. 7-3-21-0 so far for Omarzai.
- KL Rahul 45 (76)
- Sai Sudharsan 32 (49)
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, A tad full, wide of off again, keeping low yet again. KL Rahul blocks this off his back foot.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, Short of a length, around off, keeping low. KL Rahul punches this off his back foot towards the off side.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, FOUR! An aggressive intent on show from Rahul at the start of this session. Short and around off, KL Rahul rocks back and doesn't look to dab this around but slashes hard at it. Gets an outside edge and the ball races into the third man fence for four.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, FOUR! First runs in the post-Lunch session and Rahul hits this away to the fence. Tossed up, around off, KL Rahul puts on the dancing shoes, jumps close to the pitch of the ball and drives this straight in front of the sight screen for four. The 100 is up for India.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, Full and around off, turning away from the batter. KL Rahul blocks this one.
Nangeyalia Kharote to KL Rahul, Kharote starts with a loosener. Short and wide of off, KL Rahul rocks back and pushes this to covers.
Welcome back for the start of the post-Lunch session. The two Indian batters make their way out to the middle, followed by Hashmatullah Shahidi and his men. Afghanistan are starting with spin in the form of Nangeyalia Kharote. KL Rahul is on strike. A slip and a silly point in place. Let's go!
... DAY 1, SESSION 2 ...
Looking ahead - Afghanistan's spinners were able to find a bit of grip and turn from the surface, and perhaps they could have been a touch more aggressive with their field placements. By allowing India's batters easy singles down the ground, they relieved much of the pressure that had been built up. Whether Afghanistan make that change in the afternoon session remains to be seen. Given the oppressive heat, short and sharp spells from the seamers will likely be the order of the day. The second session will commence at 12.10 pm IST (6.40 am GMT). See you then!
Tale post the opening exchanges - Yashasvi Jaiswal was the first to fall, handing Mohammad Saleem his maiden Test wicket. Jaiswal's departure brought Sai Sudharsan to the crease. Unlike KL Rahul, who initially found timing the ball a challenge, Sudharsan looked more assured from the outset. The left-hander did enjoy a slice of fortune, though, when Rahmanullah Gurbaz put down a tough chance on 20.
The opening session goes India's way - The talk from Hashmatullah Shahidi after losing the toss was about starting well, and while the visitors may have only one wicket to show for their efforts, they did not bowl as badly as the scoreboard might suggest. There was not a great deal of assistance on offer from the surface, but to their credit, Afghanistan's new-ball attack started impressively. Ziaur Rahman, in particular, looked threatening. By going wide of the crease and creating that inward angle into the right-hander, he consistently had KL Rahul in two minds. In fact, he even created a genuine opportunity when Rahul nicked one behind while on 16, but Afghanistan opted against the review and the chance went begging.
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.
