KL Rahul and captain Shubman Gill both struck commanding centuries while B. Sai Sudharsan contributed a fluent 81 as India closed the opening day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan in a position of firm authority at 368/3 in 85 overs in New Chandigarh on 6 June.

Early Pressure, Early Wicket

Having elected to bat, India found Afghanistan's pace attack more testing than the scoreline suggests. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal looked positive, stroking five boundaries in a brisk 24 off 32 balls, before edging a leg-side delivery from Mohammad Saleem Safi to wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai, leaving the hosts at 41/1.

Rahul endured a nervy start and was given a notable reprieve on 16 when Afghanistan chose not to review a caught-behind appeal despite an apparent edge. He gradually settled alongside Sai Sudharsan, who looked assured from the outset, though Sai himself was dropped by Rahmanullah Gurbaz before lunch. India went into the interval at 96/1.

Rahul and Sai Build the Platform

The second session was dominated by the second-wicket pair. Rahul lifted his tempo after the break to bring up his 21st Test half-century, while Sai mixed an effective sweep against the spinners with sharp strike rotation. Their partnership crossed 100 runs, steadily shifting the balance of the contest.

Afghanistan's bowlers persisted without reward. Saleem Safi generated reverse swing and created chances — Sai survived a second reprieve on 59 when an outside edge beat the diving wicketkeeper, and Rahul escaped an lbw review courtesy of a faint inside edge. The breakthrough finally came when Safi dismissed Sai for a well-crafted 81 off 104 balls, ending a 139-run second-wicket stand that had transformed India's innings.

Gill Takes Control

Captain Shubman Gill, dropping down to No. 4, settled quickly with a series of crisp boundaries. By Tea, India had advanced to 209/2, with Rahul unbeaten on 81 and Gill looking increasingly fluent.

The final session tilted the contest decisively in India's favour. Rahul completed his 12th Test century, reaching the landmark with a flick for two, before falling for exactly 100 — caught behind by Gurbaz off Ziaur Rahman Sharifi. Notably, this was the third successive occasion Rahul has been dismissed on the century mark in Tests.

Gill and Pant Finish the Day Unbeaten

Gill assumed full control thereafter, batting with authority and patience to complete a century of his own. Rishabh Pant curbed his natural aggression to compile an unbeaten 50, and the pair added an unbroken century partnership to close the day.

Gill remained not out on 103 and Pant on 50 as India headed into Day 2 in complete command. Mohammad Saleem Safi was Afghanistan's standout bowler, finishing with 2 for 50.

Brief scores: India 368/3 in 85 overs (Shubman Gill 103*, KL Rahul 100, Sai Sudharsan 81; Mohammad Saleem Safi 2-50) vs Afghanistan.