Gill, Rahul Hit Tons to Put India in Command Against Afghanistan

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul both crossed the century milestone to guide India to an overwhelming 368-3 on the opening day of their standalone Test match against Afghanistan. The dominant batting display unfolded at the newly unveiled international venue in New Chandigarh on Saturday.

Rahul compiled a steady 100 runs from 165 deliveries to spearhead the top-order performance. He shared an authoritative second-wicket alliance of 139 runs alongside Sai Sudharsan, who contributed 81 runs after India won the toss and opted to bat.

Both Sudharsan and Rahul fell before the close of play, allowing Gill to anchoring the final session. Gill concluded the day unbeaten on 103, forging an unbroken 121-run partnership with Rishabh Pant, who reached stumps at 50 not out.

Gill completed his 11th Test century by pushing a single off pace bowler Mohammad Saleem. The young batsman celebrated his milestone before a modest crowd attending the inaugural match at the newest Test ground in India.

Rahul entered the match following a prolific domestic campaign, having finished as the top scorer for Delhi Capitals in the recent T20 tournament with 593 runs across 14 fixtures. His effort in New Chandigarh marked his 12th century in the longest format.

However, the right-handed opening batsman fell on the very next delivery after reaching his milestone. Attempting a wide drive off medium-pacer Ziaur Rahman, Rahul mistimed the shot and was intercepted at short extra cover.

The batsman expressed satisfaction with his adaptation to the five-day format following his recent white-ball assignments. He noted that spending substantial time at the crease and executing the technical transition to Test cricket was highly rewarding.

Gill maintained the scoring momentum following the dismissal of Rahul. He struck consecutive boundaries off Saleem during the afternoon sessions and concluded the opening day with 11 fours and 1 six to his name.

The left-handed Pant mirrored this aggressive approach late in the evening by targeting the Afghan spin variance. The wicketkeeper struck three sixes within a single over delivered by Abdul Malik before bringing up his 19th half-century in Test cricket.

Earlier in the day, Rahul collected 11 boundaries during a disciplined stay at the crease. He and Sudharsan successfully frustrated the touring bowling unit across two sessions characterized by hot and clear weather conditions.

Saleem eventually broke the dangerous partnership by removing Sudharsan for 81. The number three batsman fell to a catch behind the wickets shortly after reaching his third half-century at the Test level with a boundary.

Sudharsan benefited from significant reprieves during his innings, surviving dropped catches when he was on scores of 20 and 59. He maximized those opportunities by striking 13 boundaries during his 104-ball stay.

Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus acknowledged the defensive lapses but commended his squad for maintaining their work ethic under pressure. He credited the Indian batting lineup for executing their game plan effectively from the opening session.

The touring side missed an early opportunity to dismiss Rahul when he was on 16 runs. An appeal for a catch behind the stumps off Ziaur was turned down by the umpire, and Afghanistan opted against using a review.

Saleem earned the opening breakthrough of the match by removing Yashasvi Jaiswal for 24. The left-handed opening batsman attempted an aggressive flick down the leg side but managed only a faint edge to the wicketkeeper.

Debutant left-arm orthodox spinner Nangeyalia Kharote nearly claimed a dismissal in his maiden over of Test cricket. Sudharsan generated an edge to first slip, but fielder Rahmanullah Gurbaz failed to secure the catching opportunity.

India currently holds the No. 3 position in the global Test rankings. The host nation is aiming to regain its momentum in the format following a disappointing 2-0 series defeat against South Africa on home soil in November.

The fixture does not offer points toward the ongoing World Test Championship standings. However, it represents a significant milestone for Afghanistan, who played their inaugural five-day international fixture on Indian soil back in 2018.

History of India vs Afghanistan Test Cricket

The cricketing relationship between India and Afghanistan in the longest format dates back to June 2018, when Afghanistan played their historic inaugural Test match at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. India has historically served as a secondary home base for Afghan cricket, providing training facilities and venues for their domestic and international fixtures.

While Afghanistan has transitioned rapidly into a competitive white-ball team, red-ball opportunities remain rare for the nation. This 2026 encounter in New Chandigarh marks only the second time the two countries have faced each other in a multi-day international match, highlighting India’s ongoing institutional support for Afghanistan’s development in Test cricket outside the formal World Test Championship framework.

FAQs

Who scored centuries for India on the first day of the Test match?

Shubman Gill and KL Rahul both scored centuries for India. Gill finished the day unbeaten on 103, while Rahul was dismissed immediately after reaching exactly 100 runs.

Where is the one-off Test match between India and Afghanistan being played?

The match is being held in New Chandigarh, which is hosting an international match as India’s newest Test venue.

Is this match part of the official World Test Championship cycle?

No, this standalone match is not part of the current World Test Championship cycle, though it counts as an official international Test fixture.

What is India’s current position in the world Test rankings?

India enters this match holding the No. 3 position in the official world Test rankings.

Who is the head coach of the Afghanistan cricket team?

The Afghanistan national team is coached by Richard Pybus, who commended India’s performance while lamenting his team’s missed fielding chances on day one.