India made a confident start in the one-off Test against Afghanistan after captain Shubman Gill won the toss and elected to bat first at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Saturday.
Opening batters Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul negotiated the early overs carefully while taking advantage of scoring opportunities. The duo helped India move to 29 without loss after nine overs, laying a solid foundation on a surface expected to become slower as the match progresses.
Jaiswal Survives Early Chance
Yashasvi Jaiswal looked positive from the beginning and quickly found the boundary on multiple occasions. The left-hander received a stroke of luck when an outside edge flew between the slip cordon and gully for four runs. Afghanistan’s Abdul Malik reacted late to the chance, leaving bowler Azmatullah Omarzai visibly disappointed.
Despite the close call, Jaiswal continued to bat with confidence and remained unbeaten, providing India with early momentum.
Rahul Displays Class and Patience
KL Rahul complemented his opening partner with a composed innings. The experienced batter absorbed pressure from Afghanistan’s disciplined pace attack before showcasing his trademark timing through elegant boundaries.
Rahul’s mix of patience and attacking intent ensured India maintained control during the opening session.
Manav Suthar Receives Maiden Test Cap
One of the biggest talking points before the start of play was the Test debut of left-arm spinner Manav Suthar.
The young spinner received his maiden Test cap from Kuldeep Yadav, marking a significant milestone in his cricket journey. India have entrusted Suthar with an important role in a spin-heavy attack alongside Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar.
Gill Begins New Test Chapter
Leading India in a new era, Shubman Gill explained his decision to bat first after winning the toss.
The skipper noted that the pitch looked ideal for batting early and could become slower later in the match. Gill also highlighted the importance of finding the right team combination ahead of a busy Test schedule.
India rested senior stars Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja, while young batter Sai Sudharsan was handed the crucial No. 3 position.
Afghanistan Ready for the Challenge
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted he would also have preferred to bat first but expressed confidence in his team’s preparation.
The visitors arrived in India after a training camp in Kabul and are aiming to show how much their red-ball cricket has progressed since their first Test against India in 2018.
However, Afghanistan are without star spinner Rashid Khan, placing greater responsibility on their pace attack and emerging spin options.
Playing XIs
India
KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
Afghanistan
Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem
Match Summary
India enjoyed a steady start after choosing to bat first in New Chandigarh. Jaiswal’s positive approach and Rahul’s calm presence helped the hosts avoid early trouble, while debutant Manav Suthar added excitement to India’s new-look Test setup. With a long batting lineup and favorable conditions, India will look to build a commanding first-innings total against a determined Afghanistan side.
