Afghanistan’s return to Test cricket against neighbours India lasted a little less than three days as Shubman Gill’s side dominated the contest to seal an innings-and-300-run victory in Mullanpur.
Eight years ago, when a young Afghanistan side played their maiden Test in India, they were blown away by the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Nearly a decade later, Afghanistan were undone by spin once again, this time by a young Indian side where debutant Manav Suthar emerged as the star of the show.
IND vs AFG Live Score: One-off Test, Day 3 Highlights
The left-arm spinner finished with seven wickets in the match, announcing himself on the international stage in emphatic fashion.
From India’s perspective, the match may have revealed a key spinner for the future. Hailing from the small, unassuming town of Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Suthar showcased remarkable control over his drift and turn, troubling the Afghan batters throughout the contest.
Suthar’s years of grind in domestic cricket were evident as an increasingly impatient Afghanistan side lost its bearings on Day 3 of the Test match.
Hashmatullah Shahidi’s men were first bowled out for 152 and forced to follow on. Their second and final innings of the match proved even worse. Afghanistan folded for just 112 runs, handing India a crushing victory inside three days.
AFGHANISTAN LOSE THEIR BEARINGS
Afghanistan were already under immense pressure heading into Day 3 of the Test match. Tasked with batting out the day in the baking heat of Mullanpur, they instead lost their bearings during the morning session.
The turning point came when Mohammed Siraj got into a skirmish with senior batter Rahmat Shah, who was content to block deliveries and play for time.
Rahmat was well within his rights to do so. His batting partner, Sharafuddin Ashraf, was struggling with a leg injury and could barely move between the wickets. With Sharafuddin unable to run, Rahmat’s options were limited – either defend or find the boundary.
Still more than 450 runs behind India’s first-innings total, Rahmat chose the former.
Siraj, however, did not take kindly to the approach. Bowling in the blistering Mullanpur heat, the fast bowler exchanged words with Rahmat, urging him to show more intent and move the game forward.
Whether the confrontation had any effect or not, Afghanistan’s innings unravelled soon after.
Ashraf was the first to fall, edging behind while attempting an expansive shot. The dismissal triggered a collapse as Afghanistan lost three wickets in the space of four overs and were eventually bowled out for 152.
What had begun as a patient rearguard effort quickly descended into another reminder of the gulf between the two sides.
More to follow…
– Ends
