India dominated Afghanistan in the one-off Test as captain Shubman Gill smashed 126 and Rishabh Pant contributed 81, powering the hosts to 475/6 at lunch on Day 2. Despite Mohammad Saleem Safi’s four-wicket haul, India remained firmly in control with Washington Sundar and Manav Suthar unbeaten.
India continued their dominance against Afghanistan in the one-off Test match as captain Shubman Gill and wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant played crucial innings to help the hosts reach 475/6 in 110 overs at lunch on Day 2. While Afghanistan managed to strike back with three important wickets during the morning session, India remained firmly in control of the contest thanks to another strong batting display.
Resuming the day on an unbeaten 103, Indian skipper Shubman Gill looked confident and composed from the very first over. The right-hander extended his overnight century into a commanding 126-run knock off 177 deliveries, anchoring India’s innings with authority. Gill displayed excellent shot selection and patience, frustrating the Afghan bowlers for long periods before eventually falling to Mohammad Saleem Safi.
Safi emerged as Afghanistan’s most successful bowler during the session. Making full use of the second new ball, he generated pace and movement and consistently challenged the Indian batters. His disciplined spell paid dividends when he dismissed both Gill and Dhruv Jurel in quick succession, providing Afghanistan with a much-needed breakthrough.
Rishabh Pant also played a vital role in strengthening India’s position. The left-handed batter combined caution with aggression in an entertaining innings of 81 runs from 121 balls. Pant appeared set for a century but fell short after attempting an attacking stroke against Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. His dismissal mirrored that of Sai Sudharsan on the opening day, with both left-handers missing out on well-deserved hundreds after promising starts.
The visitors had opportunities to enjoy greater success during the morning session but were let down by poor decision-making regarding the Decision Review System (DRS). Gill survived a close leg-before-wicket appeal, while Pant also edged a delivery behind the stumps. On both occasions, Afghanistan chose not to review, only for replays to later indicate that the batters could have been dismissed.
Wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai endured a frustrating session as his appeals for reviews reportedly failed to convince skipper Shahidi. Those missed opportunities ultimately proved costly as India added 107 valuable runs before lunch.
Dhruv Jurel contributed a quick-fire 19 runs off just 20 deliveries, including four boundaries, before Safi trapped him with a sharp delivery that crashed into the stumps. Shahidi then joined the wicket column by claiming the prized scalp of Pant, recording his maiden Test wicket in the process.
Despite losing wickets in the session, India finished strongly with Washington Sundar unbeaten on 14 and debutant Manav Suthar not out on 9. Both batters struck two boundaries each and ensured there was no further damage before the lunch break.
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With a massive total already on the scoreboard and batting conditions still favorable, India will aim to push beyond the 500-run mark. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will look for quick wickets after the interval to prevent the hosts from building an even bigger first-innings advantage.
Brief Scores: India 475/6 in 110 overs (Shubman Gill 126, KL Rahul 100, Rishabh Pant 81; Mohammad Saleem Safi 4/109, Hashmatullah Shahidi 1/70) against Afghanistan.
