After the match Afghanistan’s crushing defeat to India in their maid Test match on Friday, India’s team captain Ajinkya Rahane made a rare but heartwarming gesture and called Afghanistan’s captain Asghar Stanikzai and the rest of the Afghan team to join the victory photo opportunity.
The stand-in Indian skipper also handed over the trophy to the debutants to boost their morale.
India crushed Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs on the second day of the one-off Test at Bengaluru's M.Chinnaswamy Stadium on Friday.
Rahane's touching gesture was a sign of the wonderful spirit in which the match was played and it did not go unnoticed.
The BCCI posted a video of the moment on its Twitter page and tweeted, "What a brilliant gesture from #TeamIndia to ask @ACBofficials players to pose with them with the Trophy. This has been more than just another Test match."
Former England cricketer Kevin Pieterson and Union sports minister Rajyavardhan Rathore reacted to the BCCI's post. Pieterson applauded Rahane saying, "Wonderful sportsmanship! Bravo!", while Rathore called it a "Super gesture."
Rahane was also full of praise for the Afghanistan team and said “credit to Afghanistan, they were fantastic. From here on it is only upwards and onwards for them. Their seamers bowled really well, especially in the third session yesterday and I am sure they will go a long way against all opponents."
Man-of-the-match Shikhar Dhawan, who smashed 107 off 96 balls, also congratulated Afghanistan for its Test debut.
India was also praised on Twitter for playing the game in a gentlemanly manner.
One fan tweeted: “Rahane has once again proved that India plays Cricket in Gentleman's Way. Not like arrogant Australians or English Snobs.”
Another fan tweeted: “Once again Gesture of Indian cricket team proved why Cricket is known as Gentleman's game. They would have simply posed for the picture and moved on but they decided to call Afganistan team to come and pose together for group photo. RESPECT FOR TEAM INDIA”
Afghanistan, playing the first-ever Test, were bowled out for 109 and 103 inside two sessions on day 2. India took 40 wickets on Friday after posting 474 in the first innings.