India had all the reason to feel proud after trumping Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs with three days still in hand on Saturday. But they were even more proud of the Afghan players, whose harsh loss in their debut test belied the encouraging promise they exhibited.

Photo credit: BCCI/Twitter

This was not lost on the home side’s skipper Ajinkya Rahane, who, during the post-match felicitation, called the Afghan captain Asghar Stanikazai, along with the rest of the Afghanistan team, to join the Indians in the team photo with the winners’ trophy.

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 #SpiritofCricket #TheHistoricFirst #INDvAFG @Paytm pic.twitter.com/TxyEGVBOU8

— BCCI (@BCCI) June 15, 2018

“I want to congratulate Afghanistan for making it to this level and Eid Mubarak to all of them,” Rahane, who led North Mumbai Panthers in T20 Mumbai, said at the post-match press conference. “It’s always a learning process.

“Once they play other sides and start winning, they will get confidence. It’s a big boost for their country.”

Fantastic effort by the boys to wrap this up in 2 days!
Afghanistan Cricket Board will only go from strength to strength here onwards. My best wishes to them for their journey in Test Cricket. #IndvAfg pic.twitter.com/K4JSrkrlBV

— ajinkyarahane88 (@ajinkyarahane88) June 16, 2018