India vs Afghanistan Live Score, Only Test Day 1: IND (286/3), Rishabh Pant comes in with a point to prove
Drama in Abdul Malik's over! The spinner thought he had Rishabh Pant caught behind after extracting sharp turn from a full delivery, but any celebrations were cut short as the siren revealed yet another no-ball. It was a costly mistake from Malik, who had already overstepped earlier in the over.Pant looked determined to seize the initiative, advancing down the pitch against another full delivery and driving it straight back at the bowler. A difficult return chance came and went, allowing Pant to collect a single and keep the strike. An eventful over that swung from potential breakthrough to missed opportunity for Afghanistan.Rishabh Pant walks out to the middle, replacing KL Rahul, and this could be a significant moment for the wicketkeeper-batter. Pant has plenty of motivation heading into this innings after losing the Test vice-captaincy, with Rahul stepping into the role. His recent IPL campaign also failed to live up to expectations, adding further scrutiny to his form.India will be hoping for a trademark Pant counter-attack, while the left-hander will be eager to remind everyone why he remains one of the most destructive and influential batters in Test cricket. A big score here would be the perfect response.Shubman Gill hasn't show any signs of slowing down and is making things look easy in the middle. He got to his fifty in fine style and has continued to hit boundaries at will. Remember, this is the same ground that he scored a hundred a few weeks ago during the IPL Qualifier 2.Signs look ominous for Afghanistan at the moment.KL Rahul departs after hitting his 12th Test hundred.It is Ziaur Rahman Sharifi once again who has produced the chance.On the up, KL Rahul drives the ball and finds short cover. However, that should not take away from the lovely knock that he has played today.Yes, he has been certainly lucky. Afghanistan did not appeal for an outside edge, he was judged not out on an Umpire's Call, but what KL showed was good discipline.On an uneven pitch, he has been able to grind out a hundred in the baking heat of Mullanpur.India vs Afghanistan Live Score, Only Test Day 1: IND (247/3 in 60.2 overs). KL Rahul (100*), Shubman Gill (39*).KL Rahul has led from the front for India as they pile on the misery on Afghanistan. Despite losing Sai Sudharsan, Rahul has maintained his composure and ensured there was no further damage after Sudharsan returned. India have 209 runs on the board thanks to 139-run stand between Rahul and Sudharsan.Afghanistan continued to drop catches and made costly errors in Mullanpur.Sai Sudharsan goes four, four, four and completes his fifty.This is a very important knock for him as the competition for No.3 in the Test team is getting tougher and tougher.Sudharsan nails the sweep, one that he had been struggling to get away, then creams a couple of drives.Afghanistan have started to leak boundaries now, because India batters are well set and cashing-in on the poor balls.India vs Afghanistan Live Score, Only Test Day 1: IND (133/1 in 32 overs). KL Rahul (52*), Sai Sudharsan (54*).Half century for KL Rahul, who continues to battle inconsistent bounce on the Mullanpur pitch.Rahul gets to fifty runs with a single, a ball that bounces above the stumps from the half volley area. This might turn out to be an absolute minefield in the next innings. India will have to bat well today, and KL Rahul is likely to remain at the forefront of it.This is the 51st fifty of his Test career. Rahul has 11 hundreds to his name as well.India vs Afghanistan Live Score, Only Test Day 1: IND (118/1 in 30 overs). KL Rahul (50*), Sai Sudharsan (41*).Right then. We are back after the lunch break. KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan have begun their innings and will look to hand India a big first innings total. It is baking hot in Chandigarh and debutant Nangeyalia Kharote has opened the second session with the ball.Kharote gets hit for two fours by Rahul, one where he is in full control and one where he is not.In the first one, he comes down the track and drives it straight down the pitch. The second one is a cut which takes a big leading edge for four.Azmatullah Omarzai starts from the other end and concedes a boundary against Rahul, who cuts the ball with disdain.Meanwhile, there is definitely turn in the pitch, which has put Sudharsan in trouble in a couple of occasions. The ball is keeping low as well.India vs Afghanistan Live Score, Only Test Day 1: IND (107/1 in 27 overs). KL Rahul (47*), Sai Sudharsan (33*).India reached lunch break on 96/1 after a strong opening session, with KL Rahul (37*) and Sai Sudharsan (32*) steadying the innings after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s early dismissal for 24.Afghanistan will rue a poor session in the field, having missed multiple chances, including a dropped catch and a missed review opportunity that could have changed the course of the morning. The new-ball attack impressed early, but India recovered well to take control before the break.Score: (96/1 in 25 ovs), Rahul (27*), Sai (32*)Afghanistan thought they had their breakthrough as KL Rahul was beaten outside off by Ziaur Rahman Sharifi and a loud appeal for caught behind followed. Umpire Sharfuddoula turned it down, and despite strong conviction from the bowler and slip cordon, the visitors chose not to review.Rahul had slashed at a length ball that nipped away, with a clear spike on UltraEdge confirming the outside edge – an opportunity missed by Afghanistan as Rahul survived a major scare.Score: IND (37/0 in 10 ovs), Jaiswal (20*), Rahul (16*)“It feels very special,” Shubman Gill said. “I grew up not far from here and played a lot of cricket at this ground. It was always a dream to represent India in my hometown, so to now captain the side here for the first time is a real privilege and honour.”Score: IND (25/0 in 8.3 ovs), Jaiswal (15*), Rahul (9*)
