Debutant Manav Suthar shines instantly against struggling Afghanistan batters
India declared their commanding first innings at 564 for eight, seizing total control of their solitary test encounter against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh. Shubman Gill scored an elegant 126, while KL Rahul added a brilliant century to put the host nation in a strong position. Rishabh Pant contributed an aggressive 81 before falling to spin, and debutant Manav Suthar secured his maiden international wicket in his very first over. Historically, fixtures against emerging nations give established sides an excellent platform to evaluate fresh domestic talent, reflecting the same developmental vision currently driving Odisha's grassroots cricket programs.
Indian Batters Dominate Proceedings
Washington Sundar completed an unbeaten half-century during the afternoon session, accelerating the scoring rate alongside Mohammed Siraj. Siraj played an entertaining cameo, striking boundaries rapidly to stretch the lead further. Meanwhile, Mohammad Saleem fought hard for the visiting team, claiming an impressive six-wicket haul despite enduring long spells under the hot sun. Saleem broke crucial partnerships, dismissing both Gill and Dhruv Jurel when the hosts looked incredibly dangerous.
Suthar Makes Immediate Impact
After putting enough runs on the scoreboard, the host team invited the opposition to bat just before the tea break. Suthar justified his selection immediately by removing opener Abdul Malik, who top-edged a sweep shot directly to a backward square leg fielder. Afghanistan closed the second day at 88 for three, trailing by an intimidating 476 runs. Their top-order batters faced tremendous difficulty handling the high-quality Indian spin attack on a turning track. Fast bowlers initially found movement with the new ball, but missed review opportunities proved costly for the visitors early in the morning session. India now looks perfectly positioned to wrap up this India vs Afghanistan test quickly on day three, utilizing their experienced slow bowlers to target the remaining wickets.
