India Dominates Afghanistan in Test Match with KL Rahul's Record Century

India has made a strong comeback to international cricket, facing Afghanistan in a Test match where KL Rahul scored a remarkable century. This achievement not only marks his 12th Test century but also sets a new record, surpassing cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Rahul's performance was highlighted by his unique ability to score exactly 100 runs on three occasions, making him the first player to achieve this feat consecutively. In a post-match interview, he discussed the challenging conditions and his transition from T20 to Test cricket. Read on to explore more about this exciting match and Rahul's impressive performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 6, 2026, 21:26 IST

India's Strong Start in Test Cricket

Following the conclusion of IPL 2026, India has resumed international cricket, currently facing Afghanistan in a one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. By the end of Day 1, India showcased their batting prowess, finishing at 385/4. KL Rahul emerged as a standout player, returning to open the innings alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal. He achieved his 12th Test century, setting a remarkable record by surpassing legends Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly. Rahul scored exactly 100 runs off 165 balls, marking the third occasion in his career where he was dismissed after reaching this exact figure. This achievement makes him the Indian player with the highest number of scores of 100, overtaking Tendulkar and Ganguly, who each had two such scores in their illustrious careers. Only England's Leonard Hutton has more, with four. Notably, all of Rahul's last three centuries have ended with him being dismissed on exactly 100, making him the first player globally to achieve three consecutive scores of this nature.

KL Rahul Reflects on Challenging Conditions

'Was Extremely Hot, Got Exhausted'

In an interview with JioStar after the first day's play, KL Rahul expressed his fatigue due to the sweltering conditions. He noted that the pitch was slow and low, which was anticipated. "I’m really pleased to have spent some time at the crease," he remarked. "Transitioning from T20 to Test cricket in just a couple of days was quite satisfying. The heat was intense, and I felt exhausted. The ball wasn’t coming onto the bat well. It was indeed slow and low, as we expected. The training sessions mirrored these conditions. I had to adjust my approach, letting some balls go and acclimatizing to the environment. Training was beneficial. I felt the urge to play a few aggressive shots, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I’ve been reminding myself not to overthink things. I played a few more shots in the morning than I typically would, but it didn’t frustrate me," he added.