India are firmly on course for an innings victory in the one-off Test against Afghanistan after a dominant performance on Day Two, headlined by debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar's impressive spell of 3 for 21. The hosts declared their first innings at a mammoth 564 for 8 and then reduced Afghanistan to 113 for 5 at stumps, leaving the visitors facing a daunting deficit of 451 runs.
Manav Suthar's Dream Debut
The 23-year-old from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan, showcased classical left-arm spin, relying on flight, loop, and subtle variations to trouble the Afghanistan batters. Suthar struck with his fourth ball in Test cricket, dismissing opener Abdul Malik, and went on to claim the prized scalps of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Afsar Zazai. His spell of 15.5-7-21-3 was lauded by cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar, who praised both his bowling and his composure with the bat during a useful 28 off 41 balls.
Gavaskar said: "Manav Suthar has made an impressive start to his Test career. What stood out was not just his bowling but also the confidence he showed with the bat. He was extremely accurate and consistently put the batters under pressure."
India's Batting Dominance
India resumed Day Two at 368 for 3 and added vital runs before declaring. Captain Shubman Gill top-scored with 126, while Rishabh Pant answered his critics with a fluent 81 off 121 balls, blending aggression with restraint. Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 52, sharing a 54-run partnership with Suthar. Mohammad Saleem was the pick of Afghanistan's bowlers, finishing with 6 for 140 despite battling scorching conditions.
Afghanistan's Struggle
Afghanistan's reply got off to a shaky start as Suthar and Prasidh Krishna (2 for 27) struck regularly. Rahmat Shah fought valiantly with an unbeaten 43, but the visitors lost half their side with little resistance. With a lead of 451 runs and five wickets in hand, India are poised to push for an innings victory on Day Three.
What Experts Say
Sunil Gavaskar highlighted Suthar's potential as a long-term successor to Ravindra Jadeja. "This was a highly encouraging debut, and he has shown the attributes to be a strong contender at the Test level going forward," Gavaskar said. The youngster's ability to extract drift, turn, and bounce from the surface impressed many, with television pitch maps showing remarkable consistency in his line and length.
Day Three Prospects
Afghanistan face an uphill task to avoid a heavy defeat. They still need 252 runs to avoid the follow-on, and their batting will rely heavily on Rahmat Shah. India, led by Shubman Gill, will look to wrap up the innings quickly and seal a comprehensive victory. Play resumes at 9:30 AM IST.
