India made hay on the opening day of their Test match against Afghanistan, with the hosts finishing in a commanding position. The day was not without its moments of fortune, however, as KL Rahul survived a close call early in his innings.
Rahul's Early Reprieve
KL Rahul was on 16 when he nicked a delivery from pacer Zia Ur Rahman behind the wickets. There was a clear sound of bat on ball, but the wicketkeeper was not convinced and the bowler did not persist with an appeal. The umpire remained unmoved, and Rahul went on to make the most of his reprieve.
India's Dominance
Despite the early scare, India's batsmen took control of the proceedings. The pitch offered little assistance to the bowlers, and the Indian batsmen capitalized on the conditions. At stumps, India had posted a formidable total, with several batsmen getting starts.
The Afghan bowlers toiled hard but lacked the penetration to trouble the Indian batting lineup consistently. Zia Ur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers, but his early breakthrough was not to be.
Looking Ahead
With the pitch expected to deteriorate as the match progresses, India will look to pile on the runs on the second day. Afghanistan, on the other hand, will need early wickets to stay in the contest. The opening day belonged to India, but the match is far from over.
