India vs Afghanistan, Only Test, Afghanistan tour of India, 2018 - CommentaryIND vs AFG, Only Test, Afghanistan tour of India, 2018 - Commentary

Harsha Bhogle: One of the biggest pluses was the length that Ishant Sharma bowled. The overs behind him in county cricket have helped.

Harsha Bhogle: Harsh welcome for Afghanistan to test cricket and the realisation that this form of cricket requires very different skills.

Vaidik Shah: Contrary to what the match stats show, it seems that Afghanistan have shown great potential in terms of bowling. Of course, you can't judge them on their batting - they are playing against one of the best spin and seam combination in the world.

@Varunreddychill: #CBhaveyoursay It might be a little tough on Afghanistan to play against someone like India on their debut match but as the saying goes "The smoothest seas never made the greatest sailors"

Parth: Nice captaincy by Ajinkya Rahane. Placed correct bowlers at the correct time.

Amin: All that patience and one rash shot. That wicket of Stanikzai sums up Afghanistan's day today perfectly!

Srivats: Other Afghanistan batsmen can take so much by looking at this current pair and repeat the same! Eat up balls, not give wickets away for rash shots! Patience is the key in test cricket.

Harsha Bhogle: Good to see a pair of batsmen hanging in there showing that this is actually a very good track to play on.

Shubham M: @Dhruv... you forgot Shami!!!

@CricIndeed: Same like picking the right opening batting pair, picking the right Pace Bowling trio is also going to be a tough decision for Virat Kohli in England Series with the likes of Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shami, Bhuvi & Bumrah. #INDvAFG #CBhaveyoursay

Dhruv: Ishant Sharma, Bhuvi, Umesh Yadav, Bumrah and Pandya the fifth. This fast bowling line up is way too deadly. It just excites me more for the England tests! Just can't wait to see these guys bowl in English conditions!

Subramaniam: Such an easy game for India. Hope this does not over inflate confidence for England tour.

PBKC: I think Umesh Yadav is one of the most matured bowlers in our team after B.K in recent times. Should be a strong contender for the place in the WC2019 Team.

Girish Iyer: If Afghanistan all out today then they can think of one more match in the remaining three days. Indians will also get some more practice.

Harsha Bhogle: The romance of Afghanistan's debut is now face-to-face with the reality of test cricket. Just 28 overs in the first innings.

Shridhar: "I have booked tickets for Day 3. I think I have lost 300 bucks!"

Guggan: @Harshal - Just the fact that Rahane has been giving Pandya the ball ahead of Jaddu should tell you India's team composition in the England series.

Anshu: "@Kapil Mohan: The problem isn't that Afghanistan hasn't been able to connect a few. The problem is they are trying to connect to a bit too many."

Umang Pabari: "@Yash Jain There have been only 20 Tests to get completed in just two days. The last such Test was played between South Africa and Zimbabwe at Port Elizabeth in 2017." -- Oops

Harshal: "Jinx should've gone for kill after seeing first over of Ashwin. Jaddu should've been at the other end. Ideal bowler for this kind of surface."

Kapil Mohan: "Would've expected Rashid to be sent a bit up the order. We have seen he can bat and how! That would have calmed Afghani nerves had he connected a few."

Yash Jain: "This might be the first Test to get completed in just 2 days." -- I'm told there was a SA-Zim two-day match in 2005

Apoorv gupta: "I don't think India should impose follow on.. instead they should take the batting practice in wake of the upcoming English tour."

Mayur Bhat: "Imagine Ashwin holding up a sheet of paper with 'TALK NAH, STANIKZAI' written on it." -- Now, now

Harsha Bhogle: The opposition hasn't been threatening but we have seen three moments of brilliance. The Pandya run-out, Ishant's dismissal of Ahmadi and Ashwin getting Stanikzai bowled.

Thara: "Strangely India having a problem of plenty."

SV: "This is as close to perfect a match can get for India. Every move of theirs turns gold"

Tej: "After a good County season and therefore naturally being considered as the main bowler for India's tour to England, Ishant's confidence is doing the job!"

Arnav Berry: "Who is standing in India's slip cordon?" -- Pujara (1st), Dhawan (2nd), Rahul (3rd), Rahane (gully)

Lord Buckethead: "And the Dhoni of Afghanistan departs in the unlikeliest of Dhoni's dismissals - a run-out."

Guru: "Shahzad should have brought his Inner Dhoni while running between wickets too."

Harsha Bhogle: Absolutely sensational from Hardik Pandya. As a point fielder, you have to be able to throw down the stumps at the non-striker's end. And he did it without getting favourable bounce either.

Sreeja: "How many runs should Afghanistan make in order to avoid follow on?" -- India's - 199

Raman: "Come on Shahzad, unleash your inner Dhoni."

Lildvil: "With teams utilising the reviews just because they have one remaining when last wicket falls leads to needless time wasting. How about being allowed to carry forward non-utilised reviews to next innings or even from batting to bowling and vice-versa in a Test match? Will make it interesting."

Shubham: "Handy runs from the lower order, may help India to not bat again."

Kartikay: "So both teams have two centurions."

VIvek Gupta: "I think Mujeeb should be on from the other end."

Kundu: "There is a definite plan in delaying the new ball. Ashgar didn't want to leak too many runs before Indian team bundles out."

Harsha Bhogle: Very nice innings from Hardik Pandya. Controlled, played at the pace he wanted. The innings of a batsman.

Justy Matt Rodz: "I just feel with weather not so promising can India declare at a score of 450?" -- Well given the pace at which these two are going about, 500 just after lunch seems a lot likelier

Rohith Krishnan: "I hope Rashid doesn't end up the Narine way. He should definitely get to play more in whites and not just with white ball."

Nikhil: "Not mandatory for every captain to obey what others did by taking new ball as soon as it is available. Let him take his decisions, he will test/learn, try, pass/fail."

PR: "Let's sign a petition to allow player on-field to use phones and access CB. Then all the people here can voice their opinion directly to the players :p"

Swapnil Shanbhag: "Hardik Pandya is a different player altogether against spin than he is against pace. We have seen some extravagant shots today."

Vinay: "Dear Stanikzai, I hope you know a new ball is available in Tests after 80 overs." -- You never know, but he sure reads Cricbuzz between overs

Abhishek: "Finally, after a long wait... Pandya and Jadeja. If you know what I mean." -- Yeah, almost exactly a year since

Gurunath Mungekar: Right opportunity for Hardik Pandya now to cement his place before the England tour, considering his all round abilities he should be picked in final 11 in England.

Venkat: Surprisingly it is not Rashid Khan who is the best bowler for Afghanistan, it is Ahmadzai. Good seam position, tight length and lot of variations to offer.

vikas: This is where Stanikzai should improve as a captain. If you have a new ball with seamers troubling batsmen, use them. Should follow horses for courses. Rashid may be the star bowler but not the only bowler.

Amit: "Why always last hour of day is most dangerous of the days play?" -- Fading light, and fatigue.

Harsha Bhogle: The last hour and a half has made this a genuinely engrossing first day's play. Excellent hundreds from Dhawan and Vijay but enough indication that this will become a good Afghanistan bowling unit.

Srivats: "What a time for afghan bowlers to step up after being bashed all around the park! Game on!"

Harsha Bhogle: After being completely outplayed in the first two sessions, Afghanistan are showing they can trouble good teams.

Eshwar: "Rashid khan first 10 overs 75 runs and last 8 overs 30 runs....He is getting back into original shape. India, Beware of him!"

PSS: "It is really a delight to watch two Rahul Dravid's playing at the same time #pujara#rahane."

Manoj Ghimire: "Too much talk about spin trio. The inexperienced pace battery are doing brilliantly here." -- And rather underrated too. On a seaming track, its their stage.

Umer: "Wondering what would have happened had Stanikzai had opted for the review against Dhawan. A game of ifs and buts, this."

Rishabh: "No Doubt in Rashid Khan's ability in limited over cricket. His performance speaks. But let him settle in Test Cricket. 15 odd overs should not judge his ability. Still a long long way to go." -- Finally. Thank you for saying that.

Tejas Singar: "Best spinners they said, best in the world they said! Overs - 22.4, Runs - 142, wickets - zero" -- Calm down. It's their first day in Tests. Cut 'em some slack.

Naman Mathur: "I live 7km away from the M. Chinnaswamy stadium and it hasn't rained a single drop here since morning... Strange!!!" -- Where do you live? #Number12GrimmauldPlace

SHREYAS: "Could Kuldeep have played instead of Pandya?" -- Certainly could have.

Sumit Parab: "I don't know why Afghan captain has continued with Rashid?" -- He's their best bowler.

Prateek: "If only Indian batsmen perform like this in England..."

Raghu: "Will the pitch change much after this rain?" -- If water has seeped through, it is likely to skid/seam around for a while, given that there is still some live grass on the surface.

Dwij: "Wow! The person who scored 14 ball 50 in IPL has scored 14 ball 3!" -- Ah, the different guises of cricket is what makes this sport so beautiful. Unlike any other.

Vicky: "@CB who was the first player who got the century before lunch on day 1? Is it David Warner?" -- Nope, it was Victor Trumper of Australia against England about 116 years ago.

Harsha Bhogle: I won't be surprised if KL Rahul at no. 3 is the shape of things to come. Throws down a challenge to Pujara.

Bilwasiva Basu Mallick: "After those blistering innings of 187 and 190, Dhawan is steadily seeking redemption for making an entry into the fabulous 200 club. Hope he doesn't throw away all his efforts in post-lunch session. If he can get the coveted 200, the opener's spot in Tests will be his own."

Abhishek: "Is Dhawan the 1st Indian player to complete a century before lunch on 1st day of a test match?" -- A resounding YES! Sehwag missed out narrowly in 2006, though.

Harsha Bhogle: What a day for Shikhar Dhawan. 1st Indian to a century before lunch on day 1. Only five before him in history. Reminds me so much of that Test in Galle where he got 190 before tea.

Harsha Bhogle: The red SG ball so different from the white Kookaburra, test cricket from T20. As Rashid Khan is discovering. He will come back though because he is a fine bowler. 4-0-34-0.

Akshay: "Rashid Khan has shown all the possible variations in space of 9 balls. He should learn from the likes of Murali and Warne to keep the variations as a surprise for the batsman." -- Baby steps, Akshay. He's 19. Can't mention Warne/Murali and Rashid in the same sentence. Yet.

Guru: "Waiting for Rashid's 'turn'" -- Oh so punny!

Jaime Lannister: "Can a wrist spinner's or a "finger spinner's" output differ with the ball changing from white to red?" -- Certainly, though it's got less to do with the colour and more to do with the grip the the roughened red ball offers after the polish wears off. Also, the pronounced seam helps with the grip as well.

Jacob Timothy: "Why Thrive for singles when you can Drive for fours?! Dhawan on song!" - Whoa! That rhymes!

Vamsi: 'Does Afghanistan have any seam bowling all rounder?' --- They do, Gulbadin Naib, but he isn't in the squad.

Areeb nazam: "This Indian Playing XI Means that Kuldeep Yadav will not be the first choice spinner in England" --- That's obvious, given the seniority and prowess of Ashwin-Jadeja plus their ability with the bat.

Rohit Yadav: Every time they go on to the field, they remind themselves of the difficult lives back home and vow to give their fellow Afghans a reason to celebrate.

Nandan: Not only players, the viewers also require to tune in their minds to watch test cricket after IPL

Arvind: Amidst all the emotions, I want India to be as ruthless as possible.

anees zed: We saw a lot of Afghans (including some of these playing here today) playing street cricket in and around Peshawar. A proud moment for them!

Harsha Bhogle: Great moment. This is what you dream of. 1st test for Afghanistan.

Harsha Bhogle: The greatest sporting event on earth starts today #FIFAWorldCup2018. But it is also a huge landmark in an emotional sporting journey. Delighted to be there. #INDvAFG.

Harsha Bhogle: Afghanistan's first test. More than just a cricket match. More than a contest. One of the greatest stories of our times.

Commentary not available for this match