June 6 (Reuters) - KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan both scored half-centuries as India reached 209-2 at tea on the opening day of their one-off test against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh on Saturday.
• The hosts won the toss and opted to bat, before losing opener Yashasvi Jaiswal in the morning session.
• Rahul, who rode a stroke of luck earlier on the opening day, appeared much more at ease after lunch and coasted to his 21st half-century in the longest format, notching an unbeaten 81 off 137 balls.
• Sudharsan, who broke into the test team last year, brought up his third test 50 just two overs later in style with back-to-back boundaries.
• The pair combined for a partnership of 139 runs before Mohammad Saleem got his second wicket of the day, getting Sudharsan out for 81 with a delivery that induced an edge behind.
• India captain Shubman Gill was batting on 20 alongside Rahul at the end of the second session.
(Reporting by Aadi Nair in Bengaluru, Editing by William Maclean)
