India v Afghanistan

#OnTheUp: Historic beginnings and importance of Tests

India v Afghanistan

It was a great week for cricket as Afghanistan became the 12th Test-playing nation and made their debut against India in Bengaluru on 14 June. Although the game was over inside two days, the occasion itself was huge and left most people excited.

Among the many dignitaries present to mark the historic occasion was Salim Durani, the only Afghanistan-born cricketer to play Test cricket for India.

Yamin Ahmadzai picked up the first Test wicket for Afghanistan and the newest Test nation had well and truly arrived on the big stage.

The Test was scheduled during the holy month of Ramadan and the second day of the Test was Eid in many parts of the world, including Afghanistan.

The end came far too quickly, by an innings and 262 runs, as the gulf between the two sides became all too apparent. But it was always more than just a cricket match – the story of the Afghans, their struggles to lead normal lives, and the fantastic rise through the ranks to reach Test level, isn't lost on anyone.

The cricket community wished for Afghanistan a bright future, including the stand-in India captain, Ajinkya Rahane.

Elsewhere, Virat Kohli might have been away from India duty due to an injury, but he is fully aware of his duties as a citizen of India. Here he is promoting a video where his wife, Anushka Sharma, reprimands a man for littering.

Kohli’s commitment to keeping the streets clean matches his commitment on the field, an example of which was him winning the Indian Cricketer of the Year award for seasons 2016-17 and 2017-18 at the BCCI awards ceremony. Smiriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur won big among women cricketers.

Kevin Pietersen was invited to deliver the MAK Pataudi Memorial Lecture, and the former England captain did a fine job, speaking about the significance of Test cricket and the impact that the newest Test nation, Afghanistan, had created on the cricketing community.

Away from India, New Zealand Women's Amelia Kerr, just 17 years of age, broke the world record for the highest individual score in women's one-day international cricket, smashing an unbeaten 232 against Ireland Women. As if this wasn't enough, she returned 5/17 with her leg-spin to help her side coast to a big 305-run victory.

How did she do it? Well, "see ball, hit ball" in her own words.

Amelia Kerr 10/13/2000IndiaKevin Pietersen 06/27/1980Virat Kohli 11/05/1988Afghanistan