Rahul, Gill hit centuries as India dominate Afghanistan on opening day
A Commanding Start in New Chandigarh
The cricketing world turned its eyes to New Chandigarh as it hosted its inaugural men’s Test match. With temperatures climbing to a sweltering 40 degrees Celsius, India captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat, banking on the pitch to deteriorate as the game progressed. By the close of play on day one, India had firmly established their authority, finishing at a formidable 368 for 3.
The Opening Struggle
The day did not begin without its challenges for the hosts. Afghanistan’s new-ball duo, Azmatullah Omarzai and Mohammad Saleem, found immediate assistance from the surface, extracting uneven bounce and moving the ball away from the openers. KL Rahul, in particular, looked tentative early on, reaching for deliveries and mistiming his shots. His luck held in the 11th over when he edged a delivery from Ziaur Ahmed; however, Afghanistan chose not to review, allowing Rahul to survive on 16.
Yashasvi Jaiswal was more aggressive, racing to 24 off 32 balls before falling to Mohammad Saleem. It was a well-deserved maiden Test wicket for the pacer, who found the edge of Jaiswal’s bat as the batter attempted to work an inswinger off his pads. This breakthrough, however, proved to be one of the few highlights for the Afghan bowling attack.
The Partnership and the Fightback
B Sai Sudharsan joined Rahul, and the duo stabilized the innings as the ball began to lose its shine and the pitch eased out. Sudharsan looked particularly comfortable, playing with elegance and intent. He and Rahul built a vital 131-run partnership that took the game away from Afghanistan. Sudharsan, looking set for a century, eventually fell for 81, a victim of a spectacular one-handed catch by wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai off the bowling of Saleem.
Rahul, having weathered the early storm, grew into his innings. His patience was rewarded in the 61st over when he flicked a full delivery to bring up his 12th Test century. It was a gritty, disciplined knock that anchored the Indian innings during the middle sessions.
Gill and Pant Take Charge
As the Afghanistan bowlers tired under the relentless sun, Shubman Gill took control. His innings was a masterclass in clean hitting, featuring 11 fours and a six. Gill looked imperious, driving and cutting with trademark precision. While Rahul departed for 100—his third Test dismissal on that exact score—Gill continued to flourish.
Rishabh Pant, making his 50th Test appearance, joined Gill at the crease. Initially restrained, Pant unleashed his trademark aggression against offspinner Abdul Malik, smashing three sixes in a single over. The pair ensured that India finished the day in a position of complete dominance.
Final Flourishes
Just before the close of play, Gill reached his own century with a elegant flick to square leg in the 83rd over. Meanwhile, Pant manipulated the field with ease, bringing up his fifty off 70 balls on the penultimate delivery of the day. Afghanistan, choosing not to take the new ball, struggled to stem the flow of runs as the ball softened and the bowlers lacked the required discipline.
As the sun set over New Chandigarh, the scorecard stood at 368 for 3, a testament to India’s clinical batting display. For Afghanistan, the first day served as a steep learning curve against a side firing on all cylinders in their home conditions.
Shaan Cooper is a cricket journalist and SEO content writer from Bengaluru who focuses on breaking cricket news, live match coverage, and player performance stories. Her writing style combines fast-paced reporting with detailed cricket knowledge tailored for digital sports platforms.
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