India Dominates Afghanistan on Day 1 in New Chandigarh
India established complete dominance on the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, reaching 368 for 3 at stumps at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Centuries from captain Shubman Gill and vice-captain KL Rahul anchored the hosts after winning the toss at the country’s 31st Test venue.
Key Highlights
- India commandingly finished Day 1 at 368/3 after 85 overs in grueling June heat.
- Captain Shubman Gill (103*) and KL Rahul (100) both cracked masterful centuries.
- Openers survived early seam movement, drawing praise from cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar.
- Low spectator turnout and prominent commercial banners sparked debates over Test cricket’s local appeal.
The home team initiated their first innings with Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul navigating testing early conditions. The opening duo put together 41 runs before Jaiswal fell for a brisk 24 in the 12th over. Subsequently, Rahul and Sai Sudharsan formed a stabilizing partnership to secure total batting control.
Sudharsan exhibited great composure during his fluent knock of 81 before his second-session dismissal. India’s scoreboard read 209 for 2 when the left-hander departed. Despite the breakthrough, the formidable Indian batting lineup continued to dictate terms as the Afghan bowling attack failed to disrupt their rhythm.
During the final session, Rahul secured his 12th Test century through a deeply disciplined performance. Soon after, skipper Gill reached his own milestone, remaining unbeaten at stumps. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant added a quickfire, unbeaten 50 from the lower-middle order to maintain a rapid scoring rate.
Afghanistan managed to claim just 3 wickets across 85 overs of play. Their bowling unit found it exceedingly difficult to sustain pressure or break vital partnerships on an unhelpful surface. India comfortably dictated the tempo of all three sessions, rarely facing true distress against the touring side.
Despite the clinical display on the field, the stadium atmosphere emerged as a significant talking point. Vast sections of the grandstands remained entirely vacant throughout the day. Commercial Pan Bahar banners inside the ground also triggered widespread public discussions regarding venue advertising and the broader presentation of modern Test cricket.
The empty stands triggered immediate questions regarding the low fan turnout. Analysts pointed to the choice of the northern venue, the international retirement of senior icons like RoKo, and whether the longest format is losing its allure among domestic fans. While India remains ahead on the pitch, attendance woes cloud discussions over the future of Test cricket.
History of India-Afghanistan Test Clashes
The 2026 match marks a rare red-ball encounter between the two Asian nations. Afghanistan played their historic, inaugural Test match against India in 2018 at Bengaluru. During that memorable debut, a classic Indian batting order overwhelmed the visitors, mirror-imaging the dominant display witnessed on day one at the new Mullanpur facility in New Chandigarh.
FAQs
What was the score of India at stumps on Day 1?
India finished the opening day of the Test match in a commanding position at 368 for 3 after 85 overs of play.
Who scored centuries for India during the opening day?
Captain Shubman Gill finished unbeaten on 103 runs, while vice-captain KL Rahul compiled a measured 100 runs before the close of play.
Where is the one-off Test match between India and Afghanistan being played?
The match is being held at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh, which is hosting its first-ever Test match.
Who took the wickets for Afghanistan on Day 1?
The primary source notes Afghanistan took 3 wickets in total, with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed for 24 runs and Sai Sudharsan getting out after a composed 81.
