KL Rahul Tricks Afghanistan In India National Cricket Team Vs Afghanistan National Cricket Team Match Scorecard
KL Rahul’s body language on the opening delivery of the 11th over helped India escape an early review on Day 1 of the india national cricket team vs afghanistan national cricket team match scorecard. Afghanistan had the appeal turned down and then chose not to use a review, even though UltraEdge later showed a clear spike.
Rahul’s feint in the 11th over
Ziaur Rahman Sharifi bowled a short of a length delivery to Rahul, who looked to go for a big booming cut and then acted as if there was no contact. The on-field umpire rejected Afghanistan’s appeal, and the fielding side stayed with that call instead of sending it upstairs.
Graeme Swann’s reaction put the moment in blunt terms: “KL Rahul has played an absolute blinder here, because the captain and the keeper looked to him, and he shook his head. And they believed him. He should be put up for an Oscar for his acting there, KL Rahul. My hat's off to you, sir. Here comes the Oscar” He added: “True batters never believe they are out despite the evidence”
India’s opening stand
The episode came with India already batting first after Shubman Gill won the toss and opted to bat. Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal had put on 41 runs for the opening wicket, giving India a steady start before the review chance slipped away.
Jaiswal then fell for 24 off 32 balls after being strangled down the legside off Saleem Safi. That dismissal ended the opening partnership and left Rahul’s escape as the most consequential passage from the first hour.
Gill’s selection call
India also handed Manav Suthar his Test debut ahead of Harsh Dubey, while Gill said the preparation had been pretty good. He also pointed to the larger run of work ahead, saying there were nine Test matches after this one, with two against Sri Lanka and five at home.
For Afghanistan, the missed review was the kind of early chance that can shape a session. Rahul stayed at the crease, India kept the advantage from the toss, and the opening morning turned on a split-second judgment that the video feed later showed should have gone the other way.
