Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant refused to take a risk in the first over as India are off to a cautious start on Day 2. In the first over of the day by Zia Ur Rehman, the duo scored three runs. They will be aiming for some boundaries in the upcoming overs, in order to maintain the momentum.

IND 371/3 (86 overs)

The Day 2 of the one-off Test between India and Afghanistan finally begins. For India, Shubman Gill (103*) and Rishabh Pant (50*) have resumed the proceedings from 368/3. On the other hand, Zia Ur Rehman will be bowling the first over for Afghanistan. The visitors badly need a breakthrough in the early hours of the game today. 

"Yeah, I'm really happy that I could get some time in the middle and make that switch from T20 to Test cricket in a couple of days' time. And yeah, that was the most pleasing thing. But yeah, 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. (Was the ball coming on in the first session?) No, it wasn't coming on at all. It was a really slow and low sort of wicket, which we, we did expect a few days of training here and even at the back. It was pretty similar to this," said KL Rahul after play on Day 1. 

"I mean, it gives so much freedom. It gives so much certainty mentally that when the coach, the team, and the captain support you, back you, and want you to do well for the country. They want you to do well for the team and win games. It is such an honour at (the) first place," Sudharsan said at the day-end press conference.

"Obviously, it gives a lot of freedom for you to express yourself and do what you can do at your best, rather than thinking about "will I play the next game or not?" or whatever thought of that sort. That never arises because you've got great freedom from the team. I think it's a pleasure," he added.

Head coach Gautam Gambhir's vote of confidence has given young Sai Sudharsan freedom to express himself, something that comes with a lot of mental assurance. On the eve of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, Gambhir made it clear that the Tamil Nadu left-hander would get a long rope as six games aren't enough to judge someone's talent while trying to build a team.

"I think when you make your debut in India against India. It's a place to come and learn, isn't it? Coming out of Afghanistan's first class cricket, and then you're bowling against the best players in the world. And he (Kharote) got benchmarked today, showing exactly the type of control and consistency which he needs. It was a lot of pressure on him," said Afghanistan head coach Richard Pybus. 

As players who have grown up playing first-class cricket in Afghanistan, it was a learning experience for debutant left-arm spinner Nangeyalia Kharote and senior offie Abdul Malik after they were treated with utter disdain by the star-studded Indian batting line-up in the one-off Test. Kharote (19 overs) and Malik (6 overs) together bowled 25 overs and collectively gave away 131 runs at more than five runs per over without a single wicket to show for their efforts.

After a horrific outing with the ball on Day 1, Afghanistan bowlers will be looking to redeem themselves on the second day of the one-off Test. However, the task won't be an easy one as they are up against Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, who are in a terrific form. The visitors would be eager to strike in the first session, in order to release some pressure. 

Skipper Shubman Gill and KL Rahul struck smooth hundreds as India posted a strong 368/3 at stumps on Day 1 of the one-off Test against Afghanistan. Gill was batting on 103 at close along with Rishabh Pant (50 batting). Pant and Gill have so far added 121 runs for the fourth wicket. It was Gill's 11th hundred in Tests. Rahul completed his 12th hundred in Test cricket before getting out soon after.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Day 2 of the one-off Test between India and Afghanistan, straight from Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. Stay tuned for all the live updates.