IND beat AFG by an innings and 262 runs | India vs Afghanistan, Highlights And Cricket Score One-off Test Match
Afghanistan in India, Only Test, 2018
Date: Jun 14, 2018 Start Time: 09:30 IST | 04:00 GMT | 09:30 LocalVenue: M.Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
After being handed the Test status last year, Afghanistan will play their first historic Test against India in Bengaluru starting from June 14. Apart from Afghanistan, Ireland were given the Test status as well. The Irish team, however, faced Pakistan last month. Ireland lost the match but it wasn’t that bad performance, considering it was their maiden Test. Now the action shifts to India vs Afghanistan.
The Afghan cricket team has made rapid strides in the international cricket. In One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals, Afghanistan have defeated teams senior to them. Now in game’s longer format, the Afghan boys will be keen to dish out some solid performances. The team has got players who can trouble the opposition. Rashid Khan is one such name. The spinner has been a force to reckon with in limited-overs fixtures and is known for his quality bowling. Apart from him, Mohammad Nabi, captain Asghar Stanikzai, Mohammad Shahzad and youngster Mujeeb Zadran add to the versatility of the squad.
India, on the other hand, will be without captain Virat Kohli. In his absence, middle-order batsman Ajinkya Rahane has been given the responsibility of leading the side. The Test side sees the return of Dinesh Karthik and Karun Nair. KL Rahul finds a place in the team as well and will be interesting to see whether he makes it to the playing XI or not.
The Indian spin duo of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja have torn apart opponents on home soil and it will be interesting to see how Afghanistan responds as they themselves will bank on spinners.
Playing their first-ever Test no doubt will be a proud moment for the Asghar Stanikzai-led side, which itself is an achievement. The visitors will make sure that the historic Test produces some good memories as they set on a long journey.
India Squad: Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cheteshwar Pujara, Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Karun Nair, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Ishant Sharma, Shardul Thakur, Dinesh Karthik, Navdeep Saini.
Afghanistan Squad: Asghar Stanikzai(c), Mohammad Shahzad, Javed Ahmadi, Ihsanullah Janat, Rahmat Shah, Nasir Jamal, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Afsar Zazai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan, Zahir Khan, Amir Hamza, Sayed Shirzad, Yamin Ahmadzai, Wafadar, Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
India vs Afghanistan Highlights And Cricket Score One-off Match - Test Summary
Excellent gesture from the Indian team as they pose with the cup with the Afghanistan squad. Both the teams are seen taking pictures with the cup as we come to an end to the coverage of this game. The visitors have a lot to work on. Whereas, the Indians just showed why they are the number one ranked side in the world. Cricketing action though does not stop here as Day 2 of the WIN-SL Test will start in some time. You can catch that by switching tabs. Till then, take care and goodbye.
India captain, Ajinkya Rahane, says it is always an honor to lead the country. He is happy with the way his team batted. Informs they stuck to their basics and it went well for them. Says Afghanistan played really well and they will improve with time.
Man of the Match, Shikhar Dhawan, says he is very happy with the way he has been playing. He is happy they finished the match early and now they can rest for the next few days. Reckons the pitch was a little damp and the fast bowlers were getting some assistance but he was clear what he wanted to do and things went his game. He congratulates Afghanistan for reaching this level. He reckons the visitors have learnt a lot from this game and will keep improving.
Afghanistan captain, Asghar Stanikzai, says he wants to thank the board to give them this opportunity. Congratulates India for the way they played. Further adds they will learn from this and perform well in the future. Mentions they have played good cricket and admits they knew Test cricket is going to be difficult. Ends by saying their batting was poor and they will look to improve on it.
Ravindra Jadeja says the pacers started off really well. He feels his job was to contain runs as the wicket was very flat and there was not a lot of help for the spinners. Reckons the wicket was a different one from that which was played on in the Indian T20 League. Further adds he along with Ashwin planned to restrict the runs and keep it simple. Advises the Afghan batsman to improve their technique.
Umesh Yadav says he is pleased to reach that landmark (100 wickets). Further adds he just tried to swing the ball and bowl it in the right areas. Reckons the wicket was a touch slow and he tried bowling it on the right areas. Informs they wanted to prepare themselves before heading to England. He feels Ishant and himself bowled well in a pair and Jadeja and Ashwin also did well later on.
Afghanistan then came out to bat after Lunch on Day 2 and their innings lasted only about 28 overs. They were bowled out for a paltry 109 with Ashwin picking up a four-fer. After enforcing the follow-on, on them, they should no signs of improvement as they were once again bowled out for a similar total. Now we have Ravindra Jadeja and Umesh Yadav for an interview.
To be honest, it was a complete performance by the Indians. First their batters did well to set a massive first innings score. Both the openers scored a ton. Hardik and Rahul also contributed with half centuries. They scored at a brisk rate and the visitors' bowlers except for Yamin Ahmadzai, had no answer to the onslaught. He was their pick of the bowlers, finishing with a three-fer.
Two days is all it has taken for the mighty Indians to beat the Afghanistan team. Once again it has taken them just a session to bowl out the visitors for the second time in the day. It was Ashwin who got a four-fer in Afghanistan's first innings, this time it is Jadeja. However, Umesh Yadav was the man who set the tone as he ran through the top order. Stanikzai and Shahidi did show some fight but once Jadeja was introduced he made quick work of the middle and lower order to give the hosts a huge win.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Wafadar. OUT! What was that? Brain fade? Maybe. Ashwin tosses this one up outside off, it turns back in. The batsman strangely offers no shot and the ball hits the middle pole. Wafadar stands there in disbelief as the Indians start celebration as they have WON BY AN INNINGS AND 262 RUNS!
Ravichandran Ashwin to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Works it with the angle through square leg for a run.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Dances down the track and hits it down to long off but does not take the run.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Gives it air on off, the batsman pushes it back to the bowler.
Ravindra Jadeja to Wafadar. Loopy ball on off, Wafadar blocks it.
Ravindra Jadeja to Wafadar. Outside off, left alone.
Ravindra Jadeja to Wafadar. Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat.
Ravindra Jadeja to Wafadar. Floats it up on off, kept out.
Ravindra Jadeja to Wafadar. Works it with the angle to mid-wicket.
Ravindra Jadeja to Wafadar. How has that missed the off pole? This is bowled full and at a quicker pace on off. Wafadar misses the drive and the ball goes agonizingly close to the off pole.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Hashmatullah Shahidi. The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Hashmatullah Shahidi. Driven towards the mid off region.
Ravichandran Ashwin to Hashmatullah Shahidi. The arm ball on middle, Shahidi tries to defend but gets an inside edge onto his pads.