India moved to the brink of a dominant victory in the one-off Test against Afghanistan as the visitors slumped to 98 for 5 in their second innings at tea on Day 3. Afghanistan were forced to follow on after being bowled out for 152 in their first innings, trailing by 412 runs. They still need 314 more runs to make India bat again.
India's Bowlers Dominate
India's bowlers maintained relentless pressure in the second session. Washington Sundar led the charge with three crucial wickets. Mohammed Siraj and Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with one wicket each, leaving Afghanistan in deep trouble.
Siraj struck first by trapping Abdul Malik lbw, providing the breakthrough after Afghanistan had made a positive start. Kuldeep then removed the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz, who scored a brisk 24 with three boundaries and a six, caught by Prasidh Krishna at long-on.
Sundar dented Afghanistan's resistance by dismissing Rahmat Shah for 13 and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi for five. He struck again just before tea, accounting for opener Sediqullah Atal, who top-scored with 42.
Manav Suthar's Memorable Debut
Earlier in the day, debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar starred with a sensational six-wicket haul as India bundled Afghanistan out for 152 and enforced the follow-on. Resuming at 113 for 5, Afghanistan could not recover. Prasidh Krishna removed Azmatullah Omarzai early, and Suthar ran through the lower order with figures of 6 for 33 in 22 overs.
The 23-year-old from Rajasthan dismissed Sharafuddin Ashraf (11), ended Rahmat Shah's gritty 60 off 135 balls, and completed a five-wicket haul on Test debut. He later trapped Mohammad Saleem Safi lbw and wrapped up the innings by dismissing Ziaur Rahman Sharifi.
Suthar's figures are the second-best by an Indian bowler on Test debut, behind Narendra Hirwani's 8 for 61 against West Indies in Chennai in 1988. He became the 10th Indian bowler and seventh spinner to claim a five-wicket haul in his maiden Test.
India in Control
With Afghanistan five wickets away from defeat and still facing a substantial deficit, India head into the final session in firm control, on course for victory inside three days.
