India vs Afghanistan: India Bat First In Historic Test, Dinesh Karthik Makes Comeback

India skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and decided to bat first against Afghanistan in the one-off Test at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.

All set for #TheHistoricFirst as @ACBofficials will become the 12th Test playing nation in the world when they take on #TeamIndia in Bengaluru.#INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/QUGhzUBg5K

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2018

Here is what the captains said:

Ajinkya Rahane:

“We’re going to bat first. Looks like a good wicket. There’s some grass but in India it’s important to bat first. Big occasion for both teams. The boys are very confident, especially the last Test we played in Jo’burg. Coming from T20, it’s all about changing your attitude and mindset. Always an honour to captain India. We are not taking them lightly. Kuldeep, Saini, Nair.”

This is what the two teams are playing for at #TheHistoricFirst

Follow the game here – https://t.co/RSfCL2ZQl6 #INDvAFG pic.twitter.com/z2Cun5gIe3

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 14, 2018

Asghar Stanikzai:

“Proud that we are playing the first Test. All the guys have some first-class experience, but out first Test, obviously. First one hour, it will be a good wicket for bowling. If we get wickets, it’ll be good for us”

Preview:

The wait is finally over. The day every cricket fan was eagerly for has finally arrived. India, one of the traditional powerhouses of the game is all set to lock horns against Afghanistan – one of the most exciting teams in the world at the moment and the latest entrant in Test arena. Afghanistan have already proved their credentials in the limited-overs format but the Test cricket is a different ball game altogether.

They will enter the contest on a high after the 3-0 win over Bangladesh in the T20Is but will have their task cut out against a side which has been invincible at home in the last couple of years. The likes of Rashid Khan and Mujeeb Ur Rahman can give India a tricky time but the hosts have a wealth of experience and they just know how to negate the spin threat. India is yet to lose a series at home since the defeat against England in 2012 and are more than likely to win this game too even though they are without their talisman Virat Kohli. Stand-in skipper Ajinkya Rahane very well knows how to lead the team in Tests, having led India to a series-clinching win over Australia last year.

Well, it is now time to sit back, relax and enjoy the much-awaited game.

Playing elevens:

India:

 Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Lokesh Rahul, Dinesh Karthik(w), Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav

Afghanistan:

Mohammad Shahzad, Javed Ahmadi, Rahmat Shah, Asghar Stanikzai(c), Afsar Zazai(w), Mohammad Nabi, Hashmatullah Shahidi, Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Yamin Ahmadzai, Wafadar