Highlights, India vs Afghanistan, Only Test at Bengaluru, Full Cricket Scorecard: Afghans fightback after Dhawan, Vijay tons on Day 1

Our correspondent Shubham Pandey reviews the day one proceedings of the historic Test from the Chinnaswamy Stadium. 

After 78 overs,India 347/6 ( Hardik Pandya 10 , Ravichandran Ashwin 7)

Wafadar is back into the attack and concedes a boundary off the first ball. He also induces an outside edge on the fifth ball but it falls short of the slip fielder. 

That will be stumps on Day 1!

India today:

First session – 158/0 (27 overs)

Second session – 90/1 (28.1 overs) 

Third session – 99/5 (32.5 overs)

Most runs by a team in a day’s play at Bangalore:

365 – India v Pakistan, 2007 
347 – India v Afghanistan, 2018* 
339 – India v Sri Lanka, 1994 

All the instances are of the first day.

Not bad, Afghanistan. Did not begin well, but have ended the day on a high. Five wickets in the last session thanks to good bowling and some lacklustre batting by the Indian middle order. India would not mind 347/6, but only because this was against Afghanistan. I would say the hosts are still ahead in the game despite losing wickets in the last session. Kudos to Afghans for coming back strongly and setting an exciting day 2.

After 78 overs,India 347/6 ( Hardik Pandya 10 , Ravichandran Ashwin 7)

Wafadar is back into the attack and concedes a boundary off the first ball. He also induces an outside edge on the fifth ball but it falls short of the slip fielder. 

That will be stumps on Day 1!

FOUR! Begins with a overpitched delivery, outside off and Ashwin drives it on the up through cover.

After 77 overs,India 343/6 ( Hardik Pandya 10 , Ravichandran Ashwin 3)

Rashid to bowl his 26th over. Two came off the over and Ashwin almost lost his off stump in the over. He left a delivery thinking it was a leg break but it was a googly and marginally missed the off stump.

After 76 overs,India 340/6 ( Hardik Pandya 10 , Ravichandran Ashwin 1)

Mujeeb has often bowled a bad ball in an over today and the second ball was that delivery in this over. It was dispatched for a boundary. Six came off the over.

FOUR! Mujeeb strays it down the leg side and Pandya glances it behind square.

After 75 overs,India 334/6 ( Hardik Pandya 5 , Ravichandran Ashwin 0)

The pressure is getting to India. The run out was a result of that pressure. India are six down. Who would’ve expected this after the start they got?

OUT! India have lost five wickets in the last session. What a fantastic session for Afghanistan. Dinesh taps this toward off side and sets off immediately for a single. But Pandya was not interested and sent him back. Nasir Jamal, the fielder, hurled the ball to Zazai, the keeper, who whipped the bails off quickly. Karthik’s bat was in the air and he will have to depart. 

Karthik run out (Nasir Jamal/Zazai)

After 74 overs,India 332/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 3 , Hardik Pandya 4)

Mujeeb’s wait for a maiden is over. He has finally bowled one after 13 overs.

After 73 overs,India 332/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 3 , Hardik Pandya 4)

Rashid Khan to bowl another over. He would bowl till 10 in the night if given the opportunity. Seems to be in the zone after snaring his first wicket. Allows only one single off his 24th over.

After 72 overs,India 331/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 3 , Hardik Pandya 3)

Karthik and Pandya are batting for survival. Another wicket here could be trouble for India. Three runs off the over.

DK survives only by just!

After 71 overs,India 328/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 3 , Hardik Pandya 0)

Afghanistan review an LBW call. They think they have got their man. Karthik has been pinged on the pad but the umpire’s call saves him this time. A maiden for Rashid.

After 70 overs,India 328/5 ( Dinesh Karthik (W) 3 , Hardik Pandya 0)

What a brilliant phase of cricket this has been for Afghanistan. Mujeeb picks up his first Test wicket. India are five down and this match has become interesting all of a sudden.

Dinesh Karthik’s batting average in Test cricket:

Home – 21.60
Away – 32.28

He is now a much better batsman than these numbers.

OUT! Mujeeb Ur Rahman strikes and what a great first Test wicket to have. Pujara has been dismissed. Bowls a carrom ball that holds its line and it takes the inside shoulder of the bat and Nabi takes a sharp catch at leg slip. 

Pujara c Nabi b Mujeeb 35(52)

So Nabi drops one catch and then takes a stunning one in the next over. Day over for Pujara who was struggling to pick Mujeeb. Exciting few moments left in the game with Pandya in now and he does not like to stay quite to the spinners.

After 69 overs,India 327/4 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 35 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 2)

Rashid has found his rhythm even if 20 overs late. He has started to look threatening and could’ve had his second wicket had Nabi taken Pujara’s catch at first slip.

DROPPED! Rashid is not happy and why should he be? He bowled the leg break and extracted extra bounce. Pujara was caught off guard and he edged it to Nabi at first slip, who failed to pouch it. Huge moment in the match. To make matters worse, the ball raced away to the third man fence.

After 68 overs,India 321/4 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 30 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 1)

Mujeeb continues and India milk three singles off his 10th over. Pujara is batting at a healthy strike rate of 70…

After 67 overs,India 318/4 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 28 , Dinesh Karthik (W) 0)

Ajinkya Rahane’s departure brings Dinesh Karthik to the centre. It is his comeback match and he will want to be among the runs.

OUT! First Test wicket for Rashid Khan and it has come after a hard day. Bowls the fast leg break. Rahane goes on his back foot to defend and gets rapped on the pad. Afghanistan appeal but the umpire says no. Stanikzai has a word with this players and opts for the review.

Three reds and Rahane will have to walk. 

Rahane lbw b Rashid Khan 10(45)

And before the end of play Afghanistan sees the back of Rahane. Wicket finally for Rashid after a though day in the office. Karthik walks in amidst great cheer. This moment happening to him after 8 long years.

After 66 overs,India 317/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 27 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 10)

Five runs come off the first two balls of the over and then Mujeeb bowls four straight dots.

FOUR! A googly gone wrong. Short and around leg and Pujara slaps it through fine leg.

After 65 overs,India 312/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 22 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 10)

Rashid continues. Pujara plays out the first three balls and then takes a single and Rahane defends the final two balls.

After 64 overs,India 311/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 21 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 10)

Four dots. One single and boundary in Mujeeb’s 8th over, who has already leaked 51 runs. It was supposed to be a spinners’ day. It has been anything but that.

Play can go on till 17:29 i.e. 20 minutes from now. Rahane, Pujara look to play it out safely.

FOUR! Mujeeb bowls it short. Rahane goes back and punches it through cover.

After 63 overs,India 306/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 20 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 6)

The run rate has fallen in after Vijay and Rahul’s departure. This might be a conscious effort from Rahane and Pujara given that India had lost two wickets in quick succession but the hosts have to now ensure that they don’t lose another wicket till stumps now.

After 62 overs,India 304/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 19 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 5)

Sixth maiden for Ahmadzai. His spell post the rain break has been spectacular. India are giving him respect and he is cashing in on that.

After 61 overs,India 304/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 19 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 5)

Rashid Khan returns and bowls his first Test maiden. Rahane is refusing to take any risks. Think he has made his mind to play a long innings today.

After 60 overs,India 304/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 19 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 5)

An expensive over from the Afghanistan captain. This duo was struggling to score runs and this over will release some pressure off them.

FOUR! Short delivery on the off stump and Pujara pulls it away to the midwicket fence.

India in complete control of the things in the middle. Pujara playing an innings unlike his playing style. It would be interesting to see how he plays Rashid because he has not played him before.

FOUR! Short delivery and outside off. Pujara waits and cuts it and beats gully to his left.

FOUR! Stanikzai bowls it wide and Pujara cuts it wide of the first slip.

After 59 overs,India 290/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 5 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 5)

Ahmadzai bowls one more maiden – his fifth of the innings. In fact Rahane was given out on the fourth ball but he reviewed and the decision was overturned as he hadn’t gloved it.

After 58 overs,India 290/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 5 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 5)

Stanikzai has introduced himself into the attack. Pujara takes a single off his first ball to cover and Rahane retains the strike with a single off the final ball.

After 57 overs,India 288/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 4 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 4)

One more maiden for Ahmadzai. What a lovely passage of play this has been for Afghanistan.

Cheteshwar Pujara in First-Class Cricket in England in this year:

2, 18, 7, 6, 9, 41, 17, 0

After 56 overs,India 288/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 4 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 4)

Another maiden over. For the first time in today’s play have Afghanistan bowled so many dot balls in a passage of play. This is what picking a couple of wickets early does.

After 55 overs,India 288/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 4 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 4)

Rahane respects Ahmadzai for five balls and then cashes in on a poor last delivery and slaps it to the point fence for a boundary.

FOUR! Short and wide. Rahane cuts it in front of point.

After 54 overs,India 284/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 4 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 0)

Pujara has just played out six balls in the calmest way one possibly can. Well, that’s what happens when a a batsman trusts his defence. Lovely to watch.

Ajinkya Rahane’s last 10 Test innings:

48, 9, 10, 1, 2, 0, 4, 17, 132, 23*

This is the right time for him to get some runs in the whites.

KL Rahul’s 50-plus scores:

First five – Four centuries 
Last 10 – No century

After 53 overs,India 284/3 ( Cheteshwar Pujara 4 , Ajinkya Rahane (C) 0)

A wicket-maiden. Out of nowhere, India have lost two wickets in three balls and now India are in recovery mode. Pujara’s role becomes crucial in these circumstances.

OUT! Two wickets in three balls for Afghanistan. Ahmadzai bowls this on a length and around off, Rahul goes to cut it but was cramped for room and inside edges it onto his stumps. 

Rahul b Ahmadzai 54(64)

And Afghanistan takes another one. Inswingers are doing the job at the moment. Guess we will see more of the pace bowling today. Crucial moment in the Test. If India lose another wicket, it might trigger some panic in the dressing room.

Cheteshwar Pujara at Bangalore in Tests:

2010 : 4, 72
2012: 9, 48
2017 : 17, 92

After 52 overs,India 284/2 ( Lokesh Rahul 54 , Cheteshwar Pujara 4)

A much-needed wicket for Afghanistan. They should now look to target the new batsman and build some pressure.

FOUR! Poor first ball from Wafadar to Pujara. Bowls it full and on the pads, Pujara accepts the freebie and flicks it to the midwicket boundary.

Curtains for Vijay. Wafadar gets his first Test wicket. A much-needed breakthrough for the visitors. If Afghans are able to get one more here they can still end the day on a good note.

OUT! Wafadar has his first Test wicket. He angles it on a length and the ball jags back in as Vijay decides to leave it alone. He gets rapped on the pads and the finger goes up. Vijay reviews almost immediately. The impact is outside off but that doesn’t matter as he didn’t offer a shot. And it is just clipping the off stump bail. 

Vijay lbw b Wafadar 105(153)

After 51 overs,India 277/1 ( Murali Vijay 103 , Lokesh Rahul 53)

Another expensive over from Rashid Khan. Nine came off it. He has conceded more than 100 runs now.

Indian openers with centuries in most consecutive Tests in India:

4 – Virender Sehwag
3 – Gautam Gambhir
3 – MURALI VIJAY*

FOUR! Rashid bowls it around leg and Rahul moves across and paddles it through fine leg. He also gets to his fifty with that stroke.

FOUR! Rashid drops it short. Rahul won’t leave those alone. Pulls it firmly and Mujeeb at square leg makes a mess of it. It shouldn’t have been a boundary.

After 50 overs,India 268/1 ( Murali Vijay 103 , Lokesh Rahul 44)

Wafadar continues. Vijay gets to his century off the first ball and then plays out the rest of the over.

Century! Murali Vijay brings up his 12th ton with a boundary over point. Celebrates with a dab with Rahul.

This is the first ever instance of two openers scoring centuries in a same Test innings at Bangalore for a team.

Most centuries in Test cricket since 2010 by openers:

21 – David Warner
17 – Alastair Cook
11 – MURALI VIJAY*
10 – Dean Elgar

After 49 overs,India 264/1 ( Murali Vijay 99 , Lokesh Rahul 44)

Rashid finishes his remaining two balls without conceding a run. One run off the over.

Right, the players are back on the field. Rashid Khan to finish his over.

Covers have been taken off completely again. Guess ten to fifteen minutes before the ground staff dries the outfield before players come back again.Lights are on as well which means light can play its role today as well. It is a little dark because of the clouds.

Rain has stopped. Groundstaff in a conference as they take the supersopper and their super spirits out again. They will have to redo the job of drying the ground. This time the rain was more fierce. Umpires on the ground too have had a look at the condition of the outfield.

Rain halts play.

After 48.4 overs, India 264/1 (Murali Vijay 99, KL Rahul 44)

Rashid continues. Slants this in, reasonably full and Vijay defends. Appeals next ball but that was clearly missing leg. Vijay takes a single on the fourth ball to get to 99 and guess what, it’s pouring again. Spare a thought for Murali Vijay! Covers are back on. Stay tuned for more.

And the rain is back. Players run away to the dressing room. Groundsmen bring the covers on….Have we seen this before? Yes we have ..

After 48 overs,India 263/1 ( Murali Vijay 98 , Lokesh Rahul 44)

Here’s Wafadar again. His previous over was all outside off and he starts this by straightening too much. Rahul milks him to fine leg for a single. They really need to sort out their lines soon. Back of length and outside off to Vijay who punches it to cover point to inch closer to his ton. This has been a typical Vijay innings – unhurried, unruffled and full of grace.

After 47 overs,India 259/1 ( Murali Vijay 96 , Lokesh Rahul 42)

Rashid comes on. Starts to Vijay with two dots before the right-hander gets off strike. He drops short to Rahul and concedes a boundary. That’s been his story of the day so far; he has just not been able to pitch balls at one spot. Another good over for India.

FOUR! Poor ball this from Rashid. Short and wide and Rahul cuts this past point.

After 46 overs,India 253/1 ( Murali Vijay 95 , Lokesh Rahul 37)

Right, so play resumes after an hour-long rain break. Would be interesting to see if it does anything to India’s momentum. Murali Vijay on strike as Wafadar runs in to get the third session rolling. Starts with a length ball outside off and Vijay is happy to leave. He comes closer next ball and Vijay plays it to covers for no runs. Single off the next ball; that was punched nicely by Vijay but they have a man in deep. Wafadar comes closer to stumps for Rahul who lets this back of length ball go through. Ends the over with a boundary. That was short and had width, and Rahul’s fast hands do the rest.

Covers are completely off the ground. Supersoppers now soaking the water patches while taking the covers off. The LIVE action is not far away, it seems. Meanwhile, players are back on the ground, warming up again after the break.

Good news: the covers are being taken off. KSCA officials on the ground to make the ground dry as soon as possible.

Well the rain has stopped for now but you never know. This is frustrating from the groundsmen. Supersoppers are now out to do their job.

Clouds getting darker here and rain is back again for a long inning, challenging the ones played by Dhawan and Vijay till now. Super soppers were out to soak the water from the ground but they have made their way back home now.

Tea has been taken. It was between 1.55 and 2.15.

Shubham has pinged us from Chinaswamy that the rain is back.

The rain jas stopped now. Rain has been playing hide and seek today. Don’t trust the Bengaluru weather at all as we are seeing sun coming out now. No one is complaining.

We have bad news. It has started raining and the covers are coming on. The players have left the field. 

Rain halts play. India are 248/1 in the 46th over. Vijay and Rahul are the unbeaten batsmen.

After 45 overs,India 244/1 ( Murali Vijay 90 , Lokesh Rahul 33)

Rashid Khan’s 14th over: 1, 1, 2, 1, 0, 1. 

Apart from a couple of balls, Indian batsmen have bossed Rashid. He has conceded 89 in his 14 overs. Not the debut he would’ve expected…

After 44 overs,India 238/1 ( Murali Vijay 88 , Lokesh Rahul 29)

It is surprising how poor Nabi has been today despite the first-class experience that he has. Nine have come off his 8th over.

It is beginning to drizzle a bit. Groundsmen are ready to cover the ground with the covers.As I type this. The drizzle has turned into a heavy shower. The players run back to the dressing room. The groundsmen are busy covering the ground completely.

FOUR! Short and width on offer. Vijay waits for it and cuts it to the point fence.

FOUR! Nabi drops it short and around off, Rahul goes back and cuts it through backward point.

After 43 overs,India 229/1 ( Murali Vijay 84 , Lokesh Rahul 24)

Rashid is back. Once again has tried too many lengths. He is not learning, is he? The lack of experience is clearly showing. One run off the over.

Afghanistan spinners have bowled 27 out of 43 overs today but have not bowled a maiden over yet.

After 42 overs,India 228/1 ( Murali Vijay 84 , Lokesh Rahul 23)

Stanikzai have decided to do away with the slip. Only a short leg is in place. Rahul takes a single on the third ball and Vijay follows it up with a boundary. Mujeeb ends the over with two dots.

FOUR! Mujeeb bowls it quick and outside off. Vijay goes on his back foot and cuts it very late through the vacant slip cordon.

Mohammad Nabi’s last five match figures in First-Class Cricket:

57/2, 52/3, 85/8, 97/2, 35/1

Who will break the Rahul-Vijay stand?

After 41 overs,India 223/1 ( Murali Vijay 80 , Lokesh Rahul 22)

Another 7-run over. Afghanistan have lacked discipline so far. And they are not going to develop it overnight. They have to be patient. They can’t go for wickets after every third ball just like their coach Simmons said. They know this. But executing it and being aware of it are two completely different things. 

Anyways, it’s time for drinks. India have dominated once again in the first hour after lunch.

FOUR! Nabi tosses it around off, Vijay reverse paddles it to the third man region.

Exceptional environment right now in the stadium. It might not be a full house today but the ones who have made it are making most of it. Mohammad Shahzad fielding at deep mid-wicket is entertaining the crowd with his antics. What a character. Clouds still hovering around making it a pleasant watch for the spectators but the fear of rains still there. The only men sweating hard in this weather are the 11 Afghans on the ground. Rahul and Vijay are making look batting far too easy right now.

The 50-run stand is up between Murali Vijay and KL Rahul.

After 40 overs,India 216/1 ( Murali Vijay 75 , Lokesh Rahul 20)

Better from Mujeeb Ur Rahman. Bowled a few carrom balls but varied his pace accordingly. One came off the over.

After 40 overs,India 216/1 ( Murali Vijay 75 , Lokesh Rahul 20)

The bowlers have changed but the runs haven’t stopped flowing. India’s run rate is 5.4 right now. Will they score 400-450 today?

FOUR! Short and wide. We have seen so many of those today. Rahul rocks back and cuts it behind point.

After 38 overs,India 209/1 ( Murali Vijay 74 , Lokesh Rahul 14)

When asked whose wicket would he like to take in the Test, Mujeeb answered KL Rahul, his teammate in IPL. But so far in the mini battle, Rahul has had the upperhand. Rahul has scored two boundaries against the Afghan spinner.

FOUR! Too full from Mujeeb, Rahul opens the bat face late and guides it between cover and point.

FOUR! Mujeeb runs down the track and drives this Mujeeb delivery through cover.

After 37 overs,India 200/1 ( Murali Vijay 74 , Lokesh Rahul 6)

Nabi is back into the attack. India have reached the 200-run mark in the 37th over. That is as quick as it gets.

After 36 overs,India 199/1 ( Murali Vijay 73 , Lokesh Rahul 6)

India collect four singles off Rashid’s 12th over. He changed his plan on the fifth ball and went round the wicket but Vijay eased it to long off for a run. India a run away from the 200-run mark.

After 35 overs,India 195/1 ( Murali Vijay 71 , Lokesh Rahul 4)

Another good over from Ahmadzai. He has varied his lengths cleverly and kept the Indian batsmen guessing. Only two singles off his 8th over.

Okay so it is becoming a treat to watch Vijay piercing gaps with those deft touches. Even the Afghan gentleman sitting beside me says ‘wow’. Although he wants to see Vijay’s back soon. The way he is batting now post the lunch session, it does not seem so he is going back anytime soon.

After 34 overs,India 193/1 ( Murali Vijay 70 , Lokesh Rahul 3)

Another over for Rashid Khan. Stanikzai wants him to find his rhythm and it hardly takes any time to guess why. He is their best spinner and him losing confidence so early in the Test will hurt Afghanistan. But there is also another way to look at this problem. With him struggling right now, India might just take the game away from Afghanistan on the first day itself. Stanikzai is in a difficult situation right now. 

Anyways, Rashid allows only three singles in his 11th over.

After 33 overs,India 190/1 ( Murali Vijay 68 , Lokesh Rahul 2)

Ahmadzai continues. He has been the most disciplined bowler so far. Four came in his 7th over. Since Dhawan’s departure, Vijay has taken over the mantle and is looking threatening.

After 32 overs,India 186/1 ( Murali Vijay 65 , Lokesh Rahul 1)

Three boundaries in Rashid’s 10th over. He has conceded 75 runs so far. He is having a terrible day so far. Maybe Stanikzai should look to back the experience of Nabi now.

FOUR! A full toss once again from Rashid and Vijay punishes it. Whips it through mid on.

FOUR! Shortish and around middle, Vijay goes back and uses his wrists to flick it through square leg.

FOUR! Shortish delivery and a googly, Vijay waits backa nd pulls it wide of mid on.

After 31 overs,India 174/1 ( Murali Vijay 53 , Lokesh Rahul 1)

A maiden from Ahmadzai. Rahul at 3 has certainly shocked a lot of people but Pujara seems unperturbed in the dressing room. But deep down he must be aware that this match will play a crucial role in deciding India’s No 3 in England.

After 30 overs,India 174/1 ( Murali Vijay 53 , Lokesh Rahul 1)

Murali Vijay completes his fifty with a brace – the second of the over – and plays out the rest of the over. Four in the over.

This is Murali Vijay’s first Test fifty after seven successive failures. However, he scored two consecutive centuries before that.

And Afghanistan celebrate. Their first wicket in Tests. Dhawan walks back after a brilliant ton.  The few Afghans in the crowd were sitting silent but they are waving their flags now. And the Bengaluru crowd is also on its feet as the local boy KL Rahul walks in to bat. No Pujara at number 3. This is interesting.

FIFTY! 16th half century for Murali Vijay. Didn’t get off to a confident start but he stuck around and has compiled a fine fifty. The key though is to continue the good work.

After 29 overs,India 170/1 ( Murali Vijay 49 , Lokesh Rahul 1)

We have often seen a wicket fall after a break and that is what has happened. A loose shot ends Dhawan’s innings and brings KL Rahul and not Cheteshwar Pujara to the crease. To not see Pujara at 3 is surprising. Could this be the way forward for India in Tests in England or this is just a one-off move. We will find out when India play that first Test against England.

Bowlers to take the first wicket for each team in Tests:

England: Allen Hill
Australia: John Hodges
South Africa: Gus Kempis
West Indies: Baron Constantine
New Zealand: Ted Badcock
India: Mohammad Nissar
Pakistan: Khan Mohammad
Sri Lanka:  Ashantha de Mel
Zimbabwe: Mark Burmester
Bangladesh: Naimur Rahman 
Ireland: Boyd Rankin
Afghanistan: Yamin Ahmadzai*

OUT! First Test wicket for Afghanistan and it is Yamin Ahmadzai who provides the breakthrough. Full and outside off, Dhawan looks to punch it through but it takes the outside edge. Rahmat Shah, the second slip fielder, goes for the catch but fails to grab it but he parries it towards Nabi at first slip, who pouches Afghanistan’s first Test catch. Dhawan’s destructive innings has come to an end. 

Dhawan c Nabi b Ahmadzai 107(96)

Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay’s 100-plus stands in Test cricket before today:

289 v Australia, Mohali, 2013
283 v Bangladesh, Fatullah, 2015

Ominous signs for Afghanistan!

After 28 overs,India 166/0 ( Murali Vijay 47 , Shikhar Dhawan 106)

An ideal start to the session for India. They milk four singles and then Vijay ends it with a boundary.

FOUR! Rashid tosses it up and Vijay flicks it through midwicket beautifully.

We are back after Lunch. Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay have arrived at the centre. Rashid Khan to bowl the first over of the second session.

After 27 overs,India 158/0 ( Murali Vijay 41 , Shikhar Dhawan 104)

Nabi to bowl the final over before lunch and India collect a single off it. 25 boundaries and four sixes came off the first session. Vijay and Dhawan walk back unbeaten on 41 and 104 respectively. Afghanistan have lost the first session comprehensively.

Standing ovation for Dhawan from the crowd. Alright this is Afghanistan but not many can score a Test ton under one session. Stanikzai could be seen having his hands on his head quite often. Playing to the strength and not to the conditions and the pitch seems to be the first Test lesson for this team.

Century before lunch on day-1 in Test cricket:

Victor Trumper v England, Manchester, 1902
Charles Macartney v England, Leeds, 1926
Don Bradman v England, Leeds, 1930
Majid Khan v New Zealand, Karachi, 1976
David Warner v Pakistan, Sydney, 2017
Shikhar Dhawan v Afghanistan, Bangalore, 2018*

After 26 overs,India 157/0 ( Murali Vijay 40 , Shikhar Dhawan 104)

The runs are flowing. India have already crossed the 150-run mark and it isn’t even lunch yet. If this dominance continues, it is going to be a long hard day for Afghanistan.

FOUR! Rashid loops it around leg and Dhawan slogs it over short fine leg.

There it is! A century before Lunch for Shikhar Dhawan. He gets to his 7th ton with a boundary through cover.

FOUR! Too full and on the pads, Vijay just flicks it past the diving short fine leg fielder.

After 25 overs,India 144/0 ( Murali Vijay 35 , Shikhar Dhawan 96)

A 17-run over. Afghanistan desperately need the lunch break. They need to regroup and rework their plans because this has been far from an ideal start.

FOUR! Make it three in a row. Dhawan is on 96. Another shortish delivery and Dhawan cuts it behind point.

FOUR! Mujeeb tosses it up and Dhawan lofts it over mid off.

FOUR! Short and wide. And Dhawan cuts it through the vacant point region.

FOUR! Beautifully played. Mujeeb tosses it up outside off, Vijay leans forward and caresses it through cover.

After 24 overs,India 127/0 ( Murali Vijay 30 , Shikhar Dhawan 84)

Rashid has started bowling well. Isn’t experimenting too much now. After two singles off the first two balls, Rashid bowls four consecutive dots to end the over.

After 23 overs,India 125/0 ( Murali Vijay 29 , Shikhar Dhawan 83)

A couple of decent overs from Afghanistan. This is also because India have changed their approach given that lunch is hardly a few minutes away. They wouldn’t want to lose a wicket now. A run off Mujeeb’s third over.

The last time before today when India scored 125-plus runs in the first session of the first day of a home Test was back in 2011 against West Indies at Kolkata (132/1)

After 22 overs,India 124/0 ( Murali Vijay 29 , Shikhar Dhawan 82)

A much better over from Rashid Khan. He bowled a couple of leg breaks and made the batsmen play him carefully. Two off it.

After 21 overs,India 122/0 ( Murali Vijay 28 , Shikhar Dhawan 81)

Can Shikhar Dhawan get to his century before lunch will be the talking point till the first session ends now. He is 19 runs away from the milestone. 13 have come off the 21st over.

SIX! There is no stopping Shikhar Dhawan at the moment. Dances down the track and smokes one over long on.

SIX! Mujeeb tosses it around off, Vijay kneels and slog sweeps it over midwicket.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman (17 years and 78 days) is the second youngest player to play a Test against India in India after Pakistan’s Mushtaq Mohammad (17 years and 10 days).

Afghanistan look like the person on the first day of his/her job – completely lost. The bowlers have looked below par and as I typed this they have lost a review as well. Dhawan seemed to have resumed from where he left in IPL. He is looking in ominous touch and except the ball on which DRS was taken he has looked unperturbed. 100 runs before the lunch session means Afghanistan will have a very long today.

After 20 overs,India 109/0 ( Murali Vijay 21 , Shikhar Dhawan 75)

Rashid continues. He has tried too many variations in his four overs and paid the price. Concedes 15 runs off his fourth. Afghanistan also opt for a review on the final ball for a caught behind. But there was not bat involved and ball tracking showed that it was going over the stumps. Review lost.

FOUR! Rashid bowls it slow and outside off, Dhawan opens the bat face late and guides it past the backward point fielder.

The 100-run stand is up between Dhawan and Vijay after Dhawan hammers one into the long off stand for a six.

FOUR! Short and width on offer. Dhawan goes back and smacks it through cover.

After 19 overs,India 94/0 ( Murali Vijay 20 , Shikhar Dhawan 61)

Right, Mujeeb to bowl his first Test as well as first-class over. And he didn’t fare too bad. Only one came off it.

India going at a brisk clip as well. Afghans facing the heat of Test cricket, already?

After 18 overs,India 93/0 ( Murali Vijay 19 , Shikhar Dhawan 61)

Rashid is still trying to understand the right lengths, pace and line. Has experimented far too much so far and it has showed. Five off his third over.

FOUR! Poor line. Rashid strays it down the line and Dhawan sweeps it behind square leg.

After 17 overs,India 88/0 ( Murali Vijay 18 , Shikhar Dhawan 57)

A marathon spell for Wafadar already. He is about to bowl his 8th over and will be bowling it to Dhawan. He starts with a no ball and then bowls three dots to the southpaw. Dhawan opens the bat face and pats it past gully for a single. The over ends with a boundary. Seven off the over.

FOUR! What a shot! On a length and outside off and Dhawan crunches it through cover.

After 16 overs,India 80/0 ( Murali Vijay 18 , Shikhar Dhawan 52)

A good comeback from Rashid Khan after a horrific first over. Five dots and a single off it. Vijay tried to defend the final ball but missed and it rapped him on the pad. Afghanistan appeal but nothing from the umpire and rightly so as it was missing leg.

After 15 overs,India 79/0 ( Murali Vijay 18 , Shikhar Dhawan 51)

Wafadar continues. It is his 7th over. Once again, Vijay faces all his deliveries and scores four off it.

FOUR! Wow. Short and outside off, Vijay gets on this toes and punches it through point. That shot will give him a lot of confidence.

Shikhar Dhawan’s fifties in India in Tests:

Off 50 balls v Australia at Mohali in 2013
Off 74 balls v Sri Lanka at Kolkata in 2017
Off 83 balls v Sri Lanka at Delhi in 2017
Off 47 balls v Afghanistan at Bangalore in 2018*

After 14 overs,India 75/0 ( Murali Vijay 14 , Shikhar Dhawan 51)

Rashid to Vijay. Starts with a shortish, quick delivery Vijay nudges it to the leg side for a quick single. Well, well not a great initiation into Test cricket for Rashid Khan. 13 came off it.

FIFTY! A bad start to Rashid Khan’s Test career. Rashid bowls another full toss and Dhawan smacks it to the deep midwicket fence to bring up his 6th half century.

FOUR! Rashid bowls a short ball, Dhawan hangs back and pulls it to the midwicket fence.

FOUR! Bowls a friendly full toss to Dhawan and he won’t miss those. He thrashes it past the diving mid on fielder.

Here is the moment we all have been waiting for. Rashid Khan is into the attack.

Slowly and steadily the crowd is building up inside the stadium. In the middle, Afghanistan still looking for their first wicket. Wafadar has bowled well today and at time almost got Vijay.

The weather is akin to swing bowling right now and that’s where a worry is as Nabi has leaked runs and Afghans are playing with three genuine spinners. They would like to see some sunshine drop on the pitch. Let’s see if the ever wondrous Rashid Khan is able to bring his magic into the game as and when he is introduced. He is getting a loud cheer here whenever he is going to field at the deep mid-wicket region.

After 13 overs,India 62/0 ( Murali Vijay 13 , Shikhar Dhawan 39)

Another expensive over from Nabi. Eight runs off it. Though Afghanistan have troubled the Indian openers in patches but they have lacked consistency and have leaked runs in every third over. They should concentrate on that after drinks.

FOUR! Back-to-back boundaries for Shikhar Dhawan. First through fine leg and then through cover. He hasn’t been at his fluent best but has managed to score runs at a good strike rate.

After 12 overs,India 54/0 ( Murali Vijay 13 , Shikhar Dhawan 31)

Stanikzai gives another over to Wafadar, his 6th. The Afghanistan captain surely wants him to bowl at Dhawan but unfortunately for the visitors, Vijay played all the deliveries. Wafadar did trouble him but Vijay is somehow still hanging out at the centre…

After 11 overs,India 54/0 ( Murali Vijay 13 , Shikhar Dhawan 31)

An eventful over. India scored a six and four and the openers completed the 50-run stand. India have scored 54 off 11 overs. Their run rate is almost 5…

The 50-run stand is up between Vijay and Dhawan. Dhawan has scored the bulk of runs.

FOUR! Nabi tosses it around leg, Vijay gets inside the line and sweeps it behind square leg.

SIX! Dhawan shimmies down the track and tonks it over the bowler’s head. That will release some pressure after that Wafadar over.

Everything that has been said about their story into Test cricket is less. Here is another perspective

After 10 overs,India 42/0 ( Murali Vijay 8 , Shikhar Dhawan 24)

Afghanistan are going to try the round the wicket tactic against Dhawan. It is an angle Dhawan struggles against and Wafadar has expoxed that so far. Pinged him on the pad once and beat him on the outside edge. Afghanistan were in fact quite excited with the second ball but he decides not to review it. Replays show that there was some deflection but it’s unsure whether it was ball on bat or bat on pad. Don’t know whether it was out or not. Dhawan retains the strike with a single to point.

Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay’s opening stand average in Tests:

In India – 53.46
Outside India – 35.70

After 9 overs,India 41/0 ( Murali Vijay 8 , Shikhar Dhawan 23)

A good first over from Mohammad Nabi. Gave the deliveries flight and bowled it slow through the air. One came off the over.

Time for spin. Mohammad Nabi to roll his arm over.

After 8 overs,India 40/0 ( Murali Vijay 8 , Shikhar Dhawan 22)

Afghanistan would want to get rid of Dhawan as soon as possible. He is the kind of player, who can change the match in one session. Sri Lanka would know. He is already batting on 22 off 23. His wicket is very crucial. Maybe Afghanistan should look to introduce spinners?

FOUR! Vijay hasn’t been at his best so far. A back of a length delivery from Wafadar, Vijay tries to drive it on the up but outside edges it past the diving second slip (Shahzad) to third man.

India began on a cautious note but now Dhawan is beginning to open his arms a bit. He has looked the best of the two till now with Vijay taking his time to settle in. Both the Afghan pacers have looked good but have been straying in length every now and then. Visitors still in hunt for the first wicket.

After 7 overs,India 36/0 ( Murali Vijay 4 , Shikhar Dhawan 22)

A poor over from Ahmadzai. He tried too many things. Outswinger, inswingers but he couldn’t control them. Ended up bowling two deliveries on the pads and both of them went for boundaries. He even bowled a wide. 13 came off the over.

That cover drive was really delectable!

FOUR! Ahmadzai is struggling here. Bowls another delivery on the pads and Dhawan flicks it through fine leg. Mujeeb looks to cut it off but fails to do so.

FOUR! As sweet as it gets. Ahmadzai bowls it full, Dhawan lunges forward and creams it through cover.

FOUR! Ahmadzai bowls it on the pads. Dhawan accepts the gift and whips it in front of square on the leg side.

After 6 overs,India 23/0 ( Murali Vijay 4 , Shikhar Dhawan 10)

Dhawan is playing his natural games. If the ball is in his area, he is trying to hit it. He also drove the third ball but it went straight to the cover fielder. He rotates the striike on the following ball. The final ball is on the pads, Vijay tries to tickle it but it hits the pad and rolls away to the fine leg fence.

After 5 overs,India 18/0 ( Murali Vijay 4 , Shikhar Dhawan 9)

Another maiden. Slowly but surely, Afghanistan pacers are getting their lengths right. Ahmadzai stuck to length balls and kept them outside off, Vijay left them all alone. The second ball though went for four leg byes.

After 4 overs,India 14/0 ( Murali Vijay 4 , Shikhar Dhawan 9)

We have the first maiden of the match. Wafadar kept bowling in the corridor of uncertainty and Dhawan didn’t take any risks. Plays out the over safely.

After 3 overs,India 14/0 ( Murali Vijay 4 , Shikhar Dhawan 9)

Three deliveries, outside off. When Vijay is on the strike, more often than not, you know what is going to happen with those. Left alone. He gets slightly squared up on the fourth ball but manages to defend it safely. The over ends with a streaky boundary.

FOUR! Lucky. Ahmadzai pitches it up, Vijay lunges forward to drive it through cover but inside edges it past the diving keeper.

Murali Vijay at Bangalore in Tests: 139, 37, 28*

This is the only venue where he averages 100-plus currently among the venues at which he played minimum two Tests.

After 2 overs,India 10/0 ( Murali Vijay 0 , Shikhar Dhawan 9)

Starts with a poor line. It pitches on off and keeps moving away. Dhawan leaves it alone. Back of a length, around off and it swings away. There was extra bounce as well. Dhawan dispatches the third delivery to the cover boundary and gives the same treatment to the final ball.

FOUR! Again. Wafadar errs and bowls it short. Dhawan hangs back and crunches it through cover.

FOUR! Short, wide. A delivery Dhawan likes to pounce on. He cuts it through cover.

18-year old Wafadar to bowl from the other end.

After 1 overs,India 2/0 ( Murali Vijay 0 , Shikhar Dhawan 1)

Ahmadzai to bowl the first Afghanistan Test ball and he pulls out… Think he wasn’t comfortable with his run-up. Right the first ball: on a length and on the stumps, Vijay looks to defend but inside edges it onto his pad. Dhawan hares across. We have the first run on the board. It went down as a leg bye though, wonder why. Angles in the second ball on a length too, it nags back in and Dhawan inside edges it to square leg. First run of the bat. Phew a peach of a delivery. After two dots, Ahmadzai bowls a length ball and it swings away and whizzles past Vijay’s outside edge. A lovely first over.