India vs Afghanistan, Only Test, Day 1: Hits and Misses

Afghanistan took on India at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on Thursday (June 14) for the first ever Test encounter of their cricketing history. It was a big occasion for the underdogs, as they took centre stage against the biggest lion in the jungle on their very first attempt.

The visitors seemed flustered for the initial half of the first day but got into their own in the latter sessions. The last hour, in particular, was very fruitful for Afghanistan, churning a spate of wickets for them before the end of day's play.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, the hosts are now at 347 for the loss of six wickets at stumps. Their top order stepped up in the game and thus, have now given India a strong foundation for the rest of the day. The Test debutantes, though, have shown signs of dynamism and exuberance in their first look in the white flannels and will be rearing for the challenges they will come across tomorrow.

Here are the hits and misses from the day's action:

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#5 Hit: Shikhar Dhawan

Gabbar in form!

In the absence of skipper Virat Kohli, the trio of Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, and KL Rahul was incorporated into the Indian playing XI against Afghanistan. All three of them shone brightly and the opening duo, in particular, put up a mammoth 168-run stand for the first wicket.

Dhawan recorded the seventh century of his Test career to score 107 runs off just 96 deliveries on the day.

His batting looked effortless and dynamic, as he took apart the Afghanistan spin attack and stitched a formidable stand with Vijay to torment the visitors furthermore. The man from Delhi hit a total of 19 fours and three massive sixes in the knock, which helped him maintain a strike-rate below 100 throughout the innings.

#4 Miss: Ajinkya Rahane

The role of captain proving too much?

The stand-in skipper could not bring his best to the table against Asghar Sranikzai and Co. Rahane toiled hard in the middle and faced 45 deliveries in the process, but has just 10 runs to show for his effort on the day.

He eventually fell in the 67th over of the game, becoming Rashid Khan's maiden wicket in Test cricket. The right-hander never looked comfortable on the crease and unfortunately for him, this discomfort collided with Afghanistan's resurgence on the first day.

His strike rate stuttered at 22.22 against the opposition spinners and ultimately, the Indian captain fell to the leg-spin of the Afghani maverick.

#3 Hit: Murali Vijay

Looks like he didn't miss a step

The Tamil Nadu batsman had an indifferent season with the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL this year, where he barely got a chance to play in the starting XI. However, against Afghanistan, Vijay was back in his element and how.

The right-handed batsman opened the Indian innings with Dhawan and dominated the proceedings from the word go. He brought his experience into play and handled the mystery spinners with ease, bringing up the 12th hundred of his Test career on the day.

This was a watchful yet assertive knock from Vijay, who scored 105 of 153 deliveries with 15 boundaries and one six.

#2 Miss: Mohammad Nabi

Nabi failed to trouble the batsmen

The off-break bowler has been fairly disappointing in the game so far. Mohammad Nabi bowled just 8 overs today, leaking as many as 45 runs and failing to scalp a single Indian wicket on the day.

With an economy of 5.6, he is the most expensive bowler in the game so far. His effort will be crucial for the visitors in his game, with batsmen like Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin still at the crease.

If Afghanistan wish to stay alive in this match by stumps tomorrow, they must try and restrict India to a total below 400 for which, it will be vital for their spinners to be at the top of their game.

#1 Hit: Yamin Ahmadzai

A star in the making?

Not much attention was focused towards this 25-year-old seamer in the build-up to this Test, as it was the spin attack of the visitors that wrecked havoc in the Bangladesh T20 series earlier this month.

However, it was Yamin Admadzai who stepped up on the day, making the world take notice of his bowling pedigree against a world-class batting line-up. It was he who broke the Indian ascendancy when India were cruising in the game. He scalped the wickets of Vijay and Rahul in two back-to-back overs, bringing the visitors right back into the contest.

He ended the day with bowling figures of 2 for 32 in 13 overs.

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