KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan Put India In Control Against Afghanistan At Tea

Picture Credit: Associated Press

KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan guided India into a commanding position during the second session of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, helping the hosts reach 209/2 in 50 overs at tea on the opening day in New Chandigarh.

Resuming on 96/1 after lunch, India added 113 runs while losing only one wicket.

Rahul remained unbeaten on 81, while captain Shubman Gill was not out on 20 at the interval.

After negotiating a disciplined Afghanistan bowling effort in the morning, Rahul looked increasingly assured following the break. The experienced opener accelerated his scoring rate, finding boundaries regularly and bringing up his 21st Test half-century.

At the other end, Sudharsan continued to impress with a mature innings that combined patience and positive stroke-making. The left-hander registered his third Test fifty and looked comfortable throughout his stay at the crease.

Afghanistan created a handful of chances but failed to capitalise on them.

Sudharsan received a lifeline on 59 when an outside edge off Ziaur Rahman Sharifi flew past wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai.

Rahul also survived an LBW appeal after a review confirmed an inside edge had saved him from Saleem Safi’s reverse-swing delivery.

The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 43rd over when Mohammad Saleem Safi induced an edge from Sudharsan with a full delivery outside off stump.

Zazai completed a sharp catch behind the stumps to dismiss the batter for an accomplished 81 from 104 balls, including 13 boundaries.

The dismissal brought an end to a vital 139-run partnership that transformed India’s position after the early loss of Yashasvi Jaiswal.

Gill settled quickly after arriving at the crease and responded confidently after surviving an lbw review.

The skipper struck four boundaries during an unbeaten knock of 20, while Rahul continued to anchor the innings as India crossed the 200-run mark before tea.