I, Amit, welcome you all to IMDPP.COM. Today, we’re going to discuss the exciting Test match between India and Afghanistan. This match is considered very special for cricket fans because both teams have young and talented players. The first day’s play was completely in India’s favor, and the Indian batsmen performed brilliantly, posting a high score.
How did the match start?
India vs Afghanistan Test Match, On June 6, 2026, the one-off Test match between India and Afghanistan began. Before the start of the match, the captains of both teams arrived at the field for the toss. Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and decided to bat first. This decision proved to be the right one, as the Indian batsmen performed brilliantly from the start.
The pitch looked good for batting, and the weather was also favorable. Therefore, India planned to bat first and aim for a big score.
India’s Start
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul came out to bat for India. The team was hoping for a good start from both players. Initially, they played cautiously and hit some good shots. However, this partnership did not last long.
Yashasvi Jaiswal lost his wicket after playing some good shots. He played a useful innings of around 24 runs. His dismissal dealt the Indian team their first blow, but it did not significantly affect their batting.
Sai Sudarshan Steers the Innings
After the fall of the first wicket, young batsman Sai Sudarshan came on. He displayed confidence from the start. He, along with KL Rahul, steadied the Indian innings.
Sai Sudarshan batted brilliantly, hitting beautiful shots all around the field. His batting displayed both patience and aggression. It looked like he would score his first Test century, but unfortunately, he was dismissed for 81.
Although he missed out on a century, his innings played a significant role in putting the Indian team in a strong position.
KL Rahul’s Brilliant Century
India’s experienced batsman KL Rahul once again proved his ability to play big innings. From the start, he batted with composure. He didn’t rush and took full advantage of the bad balls.
Rahul completed his century by adding runs one by one. This can be considered one of the most memorable innings of his career. He troubled the Afghan bowlers for almost the entire day.
Rahul’s century was crucial for India, as it allowed other batsmen to play freely. He was dismissed for 100 after reaching his century, but by then, India had reached a strong position.
Captain Shubman Gill’s brilliance
Indian captain Shubman Gill, while shouldering his captaincy responsibilities, batted brilliantly. When he came on, India needed a big partnership. Gill delivered exactly what the team needed.
He took his time initially and then gradually began to play his shots. His cover drives and straight drives were remarkable. The Afghan bowlers were unable to unsettle him.
By the end of the day, Shubman Gill was unbeaten on 103. This century is considered even more special as a captain. He demonstrated that he is not only a leader but also a reliable batsman for the team.
Rishabh Pant’s aggressive approach
When Rishabh Pant came on to bat, the atmosphere of the match changed. Pant is known for his aggressive batting, and he displayed that style.
He hit shots to every part of the field and put pressure on the Afghanistan bowlers. While other batsmen played cautiously, Pant continued to score runs quickly.
Rishabh Pant was unbeaten on 50 at the end of the day’s play. An even bigger innings is expected from him on the second day.
Day 1 Score
By the end of the first day’s play, India had scored 368 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. This score is considered quite strong for the first day of any Test match.
Key Contributions for India:
- KL Rahul – 100 runs
- Shubman Gill – 103* runs
- Sai Sudarshan – 81 runs
- Rishabh Pant – 50* runs
- Yashasvi Jaiswal – 24 runs
India forced the Afghanistan bowlers to struggle for wickets throughout the day.
Afghanistan Bowling
The Afghan team worked hard all day, but the Indian batsmen didn’t give them many chances. The bowlers consistently tried to maintain line and length, but didn’t get many wickets.
Some bowlers did bowl well, but the Indian batsmen’s strong technique and patience were not enough.