Ind vs Afg, Day 1 highlights: Afghanistan claw back after Dhawan, Vijay ton

Rashid khan came back well in the final session varying the pace of his deliveries and getting the ball to dip in troubling the middle-order with a final spell of 9-2-15-1

Stumps, Day 1: Hundreds from Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay gave Afghanistan the expectedly tough initiation into Test cricket but the debutants managed to find their bearings to leave India a tad uncomfortable at 347 for 6 on a rain-curtailed day 1 of the historic one-off Test played between India and Afghanistan Chinnaswamy stadium in Bengularuhere. Dhawan (107 off 96 balls) bludgeoned the rookie Afghan bowlers into submission and single session become the sixth batsman in the world to score a century in the first session of Day 1 while Vijay grinded them with a compact 105 off 153 balls as the duo smashed 168 in only 28.4 overs. However, the world no.1 hosts did take their foot off the pedal in the final session losing five wickets for 99 runs in 32 overs. The result was that the day end scorecard didn't paint a sorry picture for Afghanistan something that was threatening to happen after the first two sessions.
 
India vs Afghanistan, Day 1, final session
 
The final session of Day 1 (India vs Afghanistan) definitely belonged to Afghanistan as their bowlers put up an inspired performance backed by the fielders.
 
Murali Vijay and a well-set K L Rahul (54 off 64 balls) were removed in quick succession by Afghan fast bowlers — Yamin Ahmadzai (2/32 in 13 overs) and Wafadar (1/53 in 15 overs).
 
The second wicket partnership between Vijay and Rahul yielded 112 runs but their dismissals brought a collapse as 3 wickets fell with only 16 runs added on the scoreboard.
 
Skipper Ajinkya Rahane who scored 10 runs off 45 balls and Cheteshwar Pujara, 35 runs in 52 balls, couldn't maintain the momentum giving the Afghanistan bowlers something to cheer about in the final session of Day 1.
 
Rahane became Rashid Khan's maiden Test scalp while Mujeeb ur Rahman got Pujara caught at leg-gully with one that spun in sharply.
 
Comeback-man Dinesh Karthik (4) was run-out needlessly as a solid foundation laid by the openers was wasted by the middle-order.
 
Rashid (1/120 in 26 overs) conceded a 'century', getting a reality check on the enormous gulf between T20 and Test cricket during the first two sessions.
 
However, being a quick learner, he came back well in the final session varying the pace of his deliveries and getting the ball to dip in troubling the middle-order with a final spell of 9-2-15-1.
 
India vs Afghanistan, Day 1, second session
 
Dhawan became the first Indian batsman to score a century in the first session of a Test match joining the illustrious ranks of Sir Don Bradman, Victor Trumper, Majid Khan, and David Warner.
 
The hapless bowlers struggled during the first two sessions as they were not able to hit the correct 'Test match length', especially the spinners, who are used to bowling flat and quick.
 
Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons' statement about "not knowing what it's all about till you get there" seemed prophetic as the talented bunch of cricketers got their introductory lessons in red ball cricket from two openers, who have played 85 Test matches between themselves.
 
Rashid, the reigning crown prince of 24-ball spells, received a harsh treatment from Shikhar Dhawan.
 
Dhawan also hit a flowing cover drive off Rashid to complete his sixth Test hundred off 87 balls as Vijay also frustrated the minnows with his watertight technique.
 
Call it irony, Dhawan stepped out to hit straight sixes off Afghanistan's three IPL participants Rashid, Mohammed Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahaman with effortless ease.
 
In all, Dhawan hit 19 boundaries and three huge sixes before Yamin Ahmedzai picked him with a perfectly pitched delivery that moved a shade away after pitching. Mohammed Nabi, in the slips, pouched it after his skipper Ashgar Stanikzai fumbled on the first attempt.
 
India vs Afghanistan, Day 1, first session report
 
Seasoned opener Shikhar Dhawan smashed a quickfire century to help India pile 158/0 at lunch in the lop-sided opening session on day 1 of the one-off Test against debutants Afghanistan at Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
 
At the break, Murali Vijay (41 not out) and Dhawan (104 not out) went back intact, leaving Afghanistan to rethink over their strategies in their first ever Test match.
 
Shikhar Dhawan looked in sublime touch right from the start, punishing the pace duo of Yamin Ahmadzai and Wafadar for glorious boundaries before sending his Sunrisers Hyderabad teammate Rashid Khan to the cleaners.
 
In the first over Rashid khan conceded 13 runs. The Delhi southpaw has now become the only Indian to score a century in the opening session of a Test match.
 
With Vijay playing sedate innings at the other end, Dhawan looked unstoppable and got to his seventh test ton in mere 87 balls even as the famed Afghan spin trio of Mohammed Nabi, Rashid and Mujeeb Ur Rahman seemed all at sea with this format.
 
The moment Rashid or Mujeeb (1/69 in 14 overs) tried to flight, Dhawan would step out, if they upped the pace of the deliveries, they were cut forcefully.
 
With the M Chinnaswamy track offering a bit of movement for the quicks, and some spin for the slower bowlers, the left-hander looked unperturbed as he took Rashid for three consecutive boundaries, including a six before launching the Mujeeb for another three back to back fours.
 
Dhawan also hit a flowing cover drive off Rashid to complete his sixth Test hundred off 87 balls as Vijay also frustrated the minnows with his watertight technique.
 
Call it irony, Dhawan stepped out to hit straight sixes off Afghanistan's three IPL participants Rashid, Mohammed Nabi and Mujeeb ur Rahaman with effortless ease.
 
In all, Dhawan hit 19 boundaries and three huge sixes before Yamin Ahmedzai picked him with a perfectly pitched delivery that moved a shade away after pitching. Mohammed Nabi, in the slips, pouched it after his skipper Ashgar Stanikzai fumbled on the first attempt.

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'It is a historic moment for Afghanistan'
 
After winning the toss, skipper Ajinkya Rahane said that it was a historic moment for Afghanistan and that he was really excited about the match. "It's important to start well after coming off the IPL. It is a historic moment for Afghanistan, I'm really excited," Rahane said. Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai, likewise, said: "Very proud moment. All guys have first-class experience. Inshallah, we can do well. Maybe the first one hour it will be a good wicket for bowling. Then he recites the entire playing XI from memory, no peeking into paper chits. Amazing."
 
As far as Playing XI is concerned, India has gone into the match with three openers, leaving out middle-order batsman Karun Nair to make space for in-form KL Rahul to bat at number 4. Shardul Thakur and Navdeep Saini are the other two players who have been left out from the India playing XI. India went into the match without its regular captain Virat Kohli, who is currently undergoing a rehabilitation for a neck injury that he sustained during IPL 2018.
 
For Afghanistan, Afsar Zazai will keep the wicket while two frontline spinners — Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman — are also part of the Playing XI. Afghanistan, who have fast established itself as a force to reckon with in the shorter formats, will become the 12th side to feature in men's Test cricket after Ireland debuted against Pakistan last month.
 
Here is a look at the Playing 11 of India and Afghanistan

India playing 11: Murli Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane (capt), Dinesh Karthik (wk), Hardik Pandya, R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav.
 
Afghanistan playing 11: Mohammad Shahzad, Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Stanikzai (capt), Hashmatullah Shahidi, Mohammad Nabi, Afsar Zazai (wk), Rashid Khan, Yamin Ahmadzai, Wafadar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.