Innings and 300 runs: Manav Suthar blows Afghanistan away in 3 days on Test debut

Afghanistan’s return to Test cricket against neighbors India took just under three days as Shubman Gill’s side dominated the contest to an innings and 300-run victory in Mullanpur.

Eight years ago, when the young Afghan side played their first Test in India, the duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were enthralled. Almost a decade later, Afghanistan were once again destroyed by spin, this time by a young Indian side with debutant Manav Suthar as the star of the show.

IND vs AFG Live Score: One-off Test, Day 3 Highlights

The left-handed shot finished the match with seven wickets and made a strong statement on the international stage.

From India’s point of view, the match could reveal a crucial key for the future. Hailing from the small, unassuming town of Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Suthar displayed remarkable control over his drift and spin, troubling the Afghan batsmen throughout the contest.

Suthar’s years of grinding in domestic cricket were evident as an increasingly impatient Afghanistan side lost their bearings on Day 3 of the Test match.

Hashmatullah Shahidi’s men were bowled out for 152 first and were forced to follow on. Their second and final innings of the match proved even worse. Afghanistan were bowled out for just 112 runs, giving India a crushing victory in three days.

AFGHANISTAN IS LOSING THEIR REGIONS

Afghanistan were already under immense pressure heading into Day 3 of the Test match. Tasked with batting all day in hot Mullanpur, they instead lost their bearings during the morning session.

The turning point came when Mohammed Siraj got into a scuffle with senior batsman Rahmat Shah, who was content to block deliveries and play for time.

Rahmat had the right to do so. His batting partner Sharafuddin Ashraf was struggling with a leg injury and could hardly move between the wickets. With Sharafuddin unable to run away, Rahmat’s options were limited – either defend or find the boundary.

Still more than 450 runs behind India’s first innings total, Rahmat chose first.

However, Siraj did not take kindly to this approach. Bowling in blistering heat in Mullanpur, the fast bowler exchanged words with Rahmat and urged him to show more intent and take the game forward.

Whether the confrontation had any effect or not, Afghanistan’s innings fell apart soon after.

Ashraf was the first to fall and was held back while attempting a wide shot. The dismissal triggered a collapse as Afghanistan lost three wickets in four overs and were eventually bowled out for 152.

What began as a patient rear guard effort quickly turned into yet another reminder of the gulf between the two sides.

More to follow…

– The end

Issued by:

Kingshuk Kusari

Published on:

08 Jun 2026 15:32 IST