India vs Afghanistan: Manav Suthar plays on debut as India’s biggest script win in Test history
NEW DELHI: Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar made a stunning announcement on the Test scene, weaving a web around the Afghan batsmen as India registered the biggest win in their Test history with a one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Monday, winning 300 innings.On his Test debut, the 23-year-old from Rajasthan was outstanding as he took 6/33 in the first innings and added another wicket in the second to finish with figures of 7/62. His performance not only set up a crushing victory for India but also strengthened his case as a potential long-term successor to Ravindra Jadeja in Test.
Suthar shines in a dream debut
Afghanistan never looked comfortable against Suthar. Bowling with impressive control and consistency, the left-armer repeatedly landed the ball in the right areas, extracting spin and bounce to trouble the visitors.His figures of 6/33 made him only the 10th Indian bowler and seventh Indian spinner to take five wickets on Test debut. He also joined the elite list of Indian bowlers who took six wickets in an innings in their first Test.The 23-year-old recorded the best bowling figures in an innings on an Indian’s Test debut in 38 years. The last Indian to achieve better results in his debut Test innings was Narendra Hirwani, who produced a legendary performance against the West Indies in Chennai in 1988 when he took 8/61 and later finished the match with 16 wickets. Suthar also joined the exclusive club of Indian bowlers, registering six wickets in the first Test. Before him, only Hirwani, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dilip Doshi and Syed Abid Ali had achieved this feat in an innings during their first Test appearances.With Ravichandran Ashwin retired and Jadeja in the latter stages of his Test career, Suthar’s emergence could not have come at a better time for Indian cricket.
Rahul, Gill declared power of India at 564/8
India’s dominance started with the bat after they were asked to bat first. KL Rahul and captain Shubman Gill hit commanding centuries while Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar contributed valuable half-centuries.The hosts eventually declared a massive 564/8 and put Afghanistan under immediate pressure.
Afghanistan are collapsing against spin
The visitors had no answer to the Indian spin attack and were bowled out for 152 in their first innings to take a huge lead of 412 runs.When asked to continue, Afghanistan fared even worse in the second innings. Washington Sundar took 4/36 while Kuldeep Yadav claimed 3/30 as the visitors were dismissed for 112 in just 35.5 overs.Afghanistan’s batsmen struggled with both quality spin and poor shot selection of their own, allowing India to wrap up the match midway through the third day.
India’s biggest Test win to date
The innings and 300-run triumph is India’s biggest in Test cricket history, surpassing the previous record of an innings and 272 runs against the West Indies in Rajkot in 2018.
India’s Biggest Test Wins:
- Innings and 300 runs vs Afghanistan, New Chandigarh (2026)
- Innings and 272 runs vs. West Indies, Rajkot (2018)
- Innings and 262 runs vs Afghanistan, Bengaluru (2018)
- Innings and 239 runs vs Bangladesh, Mirpur (2007)
- Innings and 239 runs vs Sri Lanka, Nagpur (2017)
The win is also among the 10 biggest wins in Test cricket history and jointly ranks as the 10th biggest innings win overall.