MUMBAI:
Centuries by skipper Shubman Gill and KL Rahul led India to a commanding 368-3 on the primary day of the one-off cricket Take a look at in opposition to Afghanistan on Saturday.
Rahul made 100 off 165 balls and placed on a second wicket partnership of 139 with Sai Sudharsan, who scored 81, after India elected to bat first in New Chandigarh.
Sudharsan and Rahul departed earlier than Gill completed the day on 103 in an unbeaten stand of 121 with wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant, who was on 50 not out.
Gill reached his eleventh Take a look at ton with a single off Mohammad Saleem and raised his bat to acknowledge the applause of a sparse crowd at India’s latest Take a look at venue.
Rahul registered his twelfth Take a look at hundred however was out the following ball when he tried an expansive drive off tempo bowler Ziaur Rahman solely to be caught at quick further cowl.
Gill saved up the tempo after Rahul’s dismissal, hitting Saleem for 2 straight boundaries and ended the day with 11 fours and a six.
The left-handed Pant additionally took on the bowling assault when he hit three sixes in a single over by spinner Abdul Malik earlier than mentioning his nineteenth Take a look at half-century.
Rahul earlier hit 11 fours in a composed knock as he and left-hander Sudharsan annoyed the Afghan opposition bowling on a scorching and sunny day.
Saleem had Sudharsan caught behind for 81 after the quantity three registered his third Take a look at half-century with a 4.
Sudharsan was dropped on 20 and 59 however made the many of the reprieves, hitting 13 fours in 104 balls.
Rahul was virtually caught behind off Ziaur on 16, however the umpire turned down the attraction and Afghanistan didn’t ask for a evaluate.
Saleem eliminated opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for twenty-four after the left-hander tried a flick down the leg aspect solely to be caught behind.
Debutant left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote almost received a wicket in his first over after Sudharsan edged the ball to first slip however Rahmanullah Gurbaz dropped the catch.
India, ranked third on the planet Take a look at rankings, wish to bounce again after struggling a 2-0 defeat to South Africa at dwelling in November.
The match just isn’t a part of the World Take a look at Championship cycle however continues to be an vital sport for Afghanistan, who performed their first five-day sport in India in 2018.
