(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Gill and Rahul Centuries Put India in Control Against Afghanistan
India enjoyed a strong start in the one-off Test against Afghanistan as centuries from captain Shubman Gill and K.L. Rahul guided the hosts to 368-3 at stumps on the opening day in New Chandigarh on Saturday.
After choosing to bat first, India recovered from an early setback through a solid partnership between Rahul and Sai Sudharsan. The pair added 139 runs for the second wicket, laying the foundation for a productive day with the bat.
Rahul scored an impressive 100 from 165 deliveries, registering his 12th Test century. Sudharsan contributed 81 runs, including 13 boundaries, before being dismissed after another promising innings.
Captain Gill then took charge of the innings, remaining unbeaten on 103 at the close of play. His century was his 11th in Test cricket and helped India maintain control throughout the final session.
Gill was well supported by wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who finished the day unbeaten on 50. The duo shared an unbroken partnership of 121 runs for the fourth wicket.
Pant played positively against the spin attack and reached his half-century with a series of attacking strokes, while Gill continued to accumulate runs with confidence and composure.
Earlier, Afghanistan struck first when Mohammad Saleem dismissed opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for 24. Saleem was the most successful bowler for the visitors, claiming two wickets.
Despite creating a few opportunities in the field, Afghanistan were unable to fully capitalize on their chances as India’s top order made the most of favorable batting conditions.
Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus praised India’s batting performance while acknowledging that missed opportunities proved costly.
The match provides valuable preparation for both teams, with India aiming to build momentum in the longer format and Afghanistan continuing to gain experience at the Test level.
India 1st Innings (Stumps Day 1)
- Shubman Gill: 103*
- K.L. Rahul: 100
- Sai Sudharsan: 81
- Rishabh Pant: 50*
- Yashasvi Jaiswal: 24
Total: 368/3 in 85 overs
Afghanistan Bowling
- Mohammad Saleem: 2 wickets
- Zia-ur-Rahman: 1 wicket
