IND vs AFG Highlights, One-Off Test Match Day 1: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul hit centuries as India finish at 368/3 at Stumps

Afghanistan search for a way back - With their pacers being tired, the visitors opted against taking the second new ball late in the day, but expect them to take it straight away on the second morning. It is imperative that they make the new ball count if they are to prevent India from batting them out of the contest. Rishabh Pant was uncharacteristically restrained during his stay at the crease, and whether the handbrake comes off on Day 2 remains to be seen. Ideally, the hosts will want to bat once, bat big and put Afghanistan under immense scoreboard pressure. Join us again on Sunday, June 7, with the first ball on Day 2 set to be bowled at 9.30 am IST (4 am GMT). Until then, take care and goodbye!

Gill and Rahul led the charge - After India won the toss, KL Rahul had to tussle early in his innings against the slower nature of the surface, but he gradually grew in confidence and eventually brought up a well-crafted century. Sai Sudharsan looked positive from the outset and played fluently throughout his stay at the crease before falling short of what would have been his maiden Test hundred. Both batters rode their luck with Rahul nicking one behind when he was on 16, but Afghanistan opted against a review, while Rahmanullah Gurbaz put down a tough chance when Sudharsan was on 20. Shubman Gill looked in complete control during his stay at the crease, and with Afghanistan's bowlers beginning to tire in the final session, Gill and Rishabh Pant combined to press home India's advantage.

Afghanistan were made to work hard - The tourists showed promising signs with the new ball, but whatever little moisture was on offer in the morning gradually disappeared. That left the bowlers with very little assistance from the surface thereafter. That said, Afghanistan's quicks deserve plenty of credit. Despite the extreme heat, they kept plugging away throughout the day, with Ziaur Rahman and Mohammad Saleem looking the most likely to create opportunities. The debutant left-arm spinner, Nangeyalia Kharote, initially struggled with his consistency, but during the final hour or so, he began to find the right areas with greater regularity.

Let's hear from one of the centurions - KL Rahul says that he is feeling really happy to have spent some time in the middle and to have made the switch from T20 to Test in a really short time. Adds that the ball was not coming on nicely, and the track looked slow, which was expected by them after the training we had here. KL reckons that there is no better thing than spending time in the middle, as that's the best way you can assess a track or conditions. Rahul says that he has changed his style in the T20 format and believes that not having much turnaround time sometimes helps as well. Shares that in the morning session, he played a few more shots than he would normally, but he isn't angry because such things happen. Feels the track will assist good bowling, and the spinners will come into play as the cracks have started to open.

A dominant day for India - Headlined by centuries from Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, the home side cashed in on conditions that did not trouble the batters much beyond the opening session. It was a tough day at the office for Afghanistan, where they could not put it together with the ball for long periods. The inexperience of a side still finding its feet in Test cricket was evident at times, but these are the kind of days that can prove invaluable in the long run.

Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Full and on off, Shubman Gill tucks this through square leg for one. That will be STUMPS ON DAY 1.

Mohammad Saleem to Rishabh Pant, 19th TEST FIFTY FOR PANT! A very unlike Pant knock, but he has done really well to restrict his natural self and respect the conditions and grind hard for his half-century, saying this despite Pant smoking 3 biggies and 2 boundaries. Good length, around off, Pant opens the face of his bat and guides this to the third man region to bring up his half-century with a single.

Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, On a length, around the pads, Gill flicks this past the diving mid-wicket fielder just for one. Even the batters are tired at this point.

Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Fuller delivery, in the line of the stumps, Gill punches this towards mid on.

Mohammad Saleem to Rishabh Pant, Back of a length, around off, Rishabh Pant cuts this through point for a strike rotation.

Mohammad Saleem to Rishabh Pant, Good length, angled into the batter, Pant blocks this one.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Shubman Gill, Tossed up, around off, Gill defends this one.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Rishabh Pant, Full and around off, Pant drives this through covers for one.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Rishabh Pant, Quicker one, on off, Rishabh Pant defends it out.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Rishabh Pant, FOUR! Pant has resisted the temptation to play this scoop for long but not on this occasion. Short and wide down the leg side, Rishabh Pant comes inside the line and scoops this towards the fine leg fence for four runs. 

Nangeyalia Kharote to Rishabh Pant, Turning back in, on a good length, on middle. Pant lunges for the block but is beaten on the inside edge and wears it on the front pad.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Shubman Gill, Short of a length, around off, Gill cuts this to deep point for one.

Mohammad Saleem to Rishabh Pant, Good length, on off, Rishabh Pant pokes at it but gets beaten.

Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, 11th TEST TON FOR SHUBMAN GILL! Back of a length, on middle and leg, Gill leans inside the line of the ball and milks it past the right of the square leg fielder for a single to bring up his century on his home turf. It has been a rather dreamy knock from the Indian skipper, and some of those flicks and drives from the bat of Gill have been splendid. 

Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Good length, on the pads, Gill nudges this to square leg. Pant was charging for a single but Gill sends him back. 

Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Pitched-up delivery, on the pads, Gill flicks this straight to mid on. 

Mohammad Saleem to Shubman Gill, Back of a length, on off, Gill thumps this to covers. Stays on 99.

Pace back on in the form of Mohammad Saleem. It looks as though Afghanistan are going to take the new ball tomorrow, when their quicks are fresh, and conditions could potentially offer a little more assistance.

Mohammad Saleem to Rishabh Pant, Saleem bowls this full and wide of off, Pant opens the face of his bat and guides this to the deep third region for one.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Rishabh Pant, Under-cutter, around off, Pant pushes this gently through covers for a single. 

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Full and on the pads, Gill flicks this past mid-wicket for one.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Arm-delivery, around the pads, Gill stands tall and tucks this through the square leg region. Calls for two straightaway and completes that with ease.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Fired into the batter, on middle and off, Gill keeps it out.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Rishabh Pant, Loopy delivery, around off, Pant hammers this down to long off for one.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Rishabh Pant, FOUR! First four to Pant's column in this contest. Short of a length, on middle and off, Pant rocks back and pulls this through the mid-wicket region for four runs. 350 comes up for India. 

Hashmatullah Shahidi to continue...

Nangeyalia Kharote to Rishabh Pant, The 100-run stand comes up between Pant and Gill. Full and wide of off, Pant knocks this down to long off for one.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Shubman Gill, Tossed up, around off, Gill drives this to long off for a single. 

Nangeyalia Kharote to Rishabh Pant, Too full this time on middle and off, Pant hammers this past the bowler to his right for a single. A half-stop from the bowler but the ball still dribbles behind him for one.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Rishabh Pant, Kharote bowls this full and on middle and leg. Pant offers a straight bat and keeps it out.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Shubman Gill, Loopy delivery, around off, Gill drives this through covers for one run.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Shubman Gill, Under-cutter, down the leg side, Gill tickles this towards the fine leg region for two runs.

The second new ball is now available. Afghanistan are sticking to the old ball for now.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Rishabh Pant, Pushed through on off, Pant defends this right back to the bowler.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Rishabh Pant, Fuller around off, Pant slices this to point.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Rishabh Pant, Drifts one into the batter and it straightens after pitching. Rishabh Pant rocks back inside the crease and keeps it out.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Darted onto the pads, Gill stands tall and milks this through backward square leg for one.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Quicker one around off, Gill punches this to mid off for a dot.

Hashmatullah Shahidi to Shubman Gill, Full and on middle and leg, Gill jumps close to the pitch of the ball and tucks this towards short mid-wicket.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Rishabh Pant, Tossed up, around off, Pant pushes this towards short extra cover.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Shubman Gill, Short of a length, around off, Gill cuts this off his back foot to the right of backward point for one as the fielder only made a half-stop.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Rishabh Pant, Kharote goes full and on off, Pant plays this down to a deepish mid on for one.

Nangeyalia Kharote to Shubman Gill, Fuller around off, driven through mid off for a single. 

Nangeyalia Kharote to Shubman Gill, Quicker one, on middle and leg, Shubman Gill tucks this to the leg side. 

Nangeyalia Kharote to Shubman Gill, Aimed at the off stump, Shubman Gill defends this out.