KL Rahul's determined 100 powers India to strong start vs Afghanistan in 2026 Test

KL Rahul battled a tough pitch and heat to score 165 balls for a gritty 100 on India's opening day against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.

Rahul's tough but crucial innings The very first ball Rahul faced set the tone for his determined 165-ball century on the opening day of India's lone Test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. While the surface posed constant challenges, Rahul maintained his composure to craft a patient yet vital innings. Though Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant later stitched up fluent hundreds and fifties respectively, it was Rahul's resilient approach that cleared the initial hurdles and set the platform for them to thrive. ## Quick turnaround from IPL to red-ball grind Between this Test match and the IPL 2026 final, there was just a six-day gap. Rahul’s franchise, Delhi Capitals, missed the playoffs, giving him an extended week to reset his sleep patterns and mentally and technically gear up for the demands of Test cricket. ## Afghan attack struggles on tricky surface Afghanistan’s seam trio brought only three Test caps between them and often strayed from their line and length, but the pitch made batting even harder. Some deliveries stayed low or kept their pace after one bounce, forcing early challenges. In the second over, bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai, Rahul chose to leave two deliveries that passed outside off stump, both of which bounced unexpectedly before reaching the keeper. ## Rahul's patience tested early After two months focused on T20 cricket, Rahul displayed remarkable discipline by leaving deliveries outside off and defending those aimed at the stumps. His first scoring shot arrived only after facing seven dot balls, when he guided an overpitched delivery from Ziaur Rahman through midwicket for four. Whenever the seamers pitched short of a good length, Rahul tried to punch the ball off the back foot, but the slow nature of the pitch disrupted his timing. At one stage, he was stuck at 5 runs off 26 deliveries. ## Pitch conditions frustrate Rahul The surface offered little assistance to the bat, and Rahul admitted the difficulty after play ended. He described it as a slow, low wicket with minimal carry, noting that the adjacent practice pitches at B ground were similarly unhelpful. His extensive net sessions there had aimed to prepare him for exactly this kind of Test match challenge. ## Rahul seizes momentum against spin He refused to give away any more chances. When left-arm spinner Sharafuddin Ashraf had to leave the field due to an injury, Afghanistan were left a bowler short. Rahul and B Sai Sudharsan capitalized on the opportunity, putting together a 139-run partnership for the second wicket, with Sudharsan contributing 81 from 104 balls. ## Partnership built on mutual understanding From the outside, it seemed Sudharsan played the aggressive role to lighten the pressure on Rahul, but he clarified that wasn’t the case. Instead, it was Rahul guiding the approach. He explained that their conversations revolved around reading the wicket, understanding bowlers’ styles, and choosing the right options. Rahul’s ability to read the game provided Sudharsan with both calm and clarity. ## Extreme heat adds to physical toll The searing conditions added another layer of difficulty, with temperatures hitting 39°C and feeling like 43°C in the middle. During the second session’s drinks break, physio Harsh Dubey and a support staff member improvised a shaded resting area using a towel, allowing Rahul a brief respite from the heat. ## Rahul reaches milestone despite exhaustion All the hard work culminated when Rahul reached his century, his fourth in the last ten Tests. He later admitted the heat left little room for celebration. He said, "It was really hot, so there wasn’t much time for me to feel happy or satisfied with the way I batted. I was just exhausted by the end of it." ## Century ends with familiar dismissal Moments after his hundred, Rahul attempted an ambitious drive and was caught at short extra cover. This dismissal marked his third consecutive Test century ending on exactly 100 runs. His previous two such scores came against England at Lord’s and West Indies in Ahmedabad last year. On those occasions too, he perished while driving firmly against spin. ## Test average highlights room for growth Among batters with at least ten Test hundreds, Rahul now holds the lowest century average at 126.16. While acknowledging the fine effort, the need to raise his game further becomes apparent ahead of crucial World Test Championship fixtures.