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- IND vs AFG Highlights, One-Off Test Match Day 3: India register biggest-ever victory, beat Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs
IND vs AFG Highlights, One-Off Test Match Day 3: India register biggest-ever victory, beat Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs
After being bowled out for 152 in reply to India's 564 for 8 declared, Afghanistan were forced to follow on but collapsed again for just 112 midway through the third day. Washington Sundar exploited the visitors' reckless approach brilliantly to return 4 for 36, while Kuldeep Yadav also enjoyed some success with figures of 3 for 30.
Suthar's debut could prove to be the most significant development for Indian cricket. With Ravichandran Ashwin already retired and Ravindra Jadeja nearing the latter stages of his Test career, the 23-year-old showcased the qualities needed to carry India's spin legacy forward. His accuracy, ability to impart heavy revolutions and knack of extracting turn and bounce from a docile track impressed throughout the match.
He became the 10th Indian bowler and seventh spinner to take a five-wicket haul on debut, underlining the magnitude of his achievement. The sparse crowd present on Monday morning witnessed the arrival of a promising new spin star.
Afghanistan's resistance was limited to veteran Rahmat Shah, who became the first batter from his country to reach 1,000 Test runs during his first-innings 60. However, a combination of inexperience and questionable shot selection ensured the visitors were no match for India's disciplined spin attack as the hosts completed another emphatic victory over the Afghans.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, In the channel, on a good length. Abdul Malik shoulders his arms at it.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, A tad full on this occasion, around the pads. Abdul Malik pushes this to mid on.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Hard length, around off, Atal gently pushes this towards point. Manav Suthar misfields it and the batters take one.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Prasidh Krishna goes full and on middle and leg, Atal pushes this to mid on.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Good length, around off, Sediqullah Atal blocks this off his back foot towards backward point.
- Abdul Malik 2 (21)
- Sediqullah Atal 19 (21)
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Another one where Manav gives it a lot of air, bowls it a tad full and on off. Abdul Malik dabs this to the left of Mohammed Siraj at backward point.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Flighted, around off, Abdul Malik pushes this to the left of point.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Quicker, flatter and fuller, on middle and leg, Abdul Malik blocks this off his front foot.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Much fuller, tossed up, around off, Abdul pats this back to the bowler for a dot.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Quicker one, around off, Abdul Malik defends this underneath his eyeline.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Floated around off, Abdul Malik rocks back and blocks this back to the bowler.
- Sediqullah Atal 19 (21)
- Abdul Malik 2 (15)
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Hard length, on middle and leg, Sediqullah Atal pushes this to mid on.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Good length, wide outside off, Atal shoulders his arms at it.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Full and wide of off, Sediqullah Atal steps close to the pitch of the ball and leaves it.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Back of a length, around off, Atal punches this through the covers region for a couple.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Good length, around off, Atal blocks this off his front foot.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Hard length, on top of off, Sediqullah Atal gets behind the line of the ball and blocks this out.
It will be pace from the other end in the form of Prasidh Krishna.
- Abdul Malik 2 (15)
- Sediqullah Atal 17 (15)
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Fuller around middle and off, Abdul Malik gets right on top of the bounce and keeps it out.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Tossed up, around off, Abdul Malik defends this off his front foot.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Quicker one, around off, Abdul Malik presses onto the front foot and blocks this back to the bowler.
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, Fuller around off, Atal punches this past the left of he bowler for a single down to long on.
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, Manav comes around the stumps, bowls it full and on middle and leg, Atal rocks back again and keeps it out.
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, Manav starts the afternoon session with a length delivery, in line with the stumps. Sediqullah Atal rocks deep inside the crease and tucks this to short leg.
Welcome back for the afternoon session on Day 3. The two Afghan openers have made their way out to the centre and have been joined by the Indians. Manav Suthar will kickstart proceedings with the ball. Sediqullah Atal is on strike. A slip, a backward short leg and a forward short leg await. Here we go!
... DAY 3, SESSION 2 ...
A battle of patience - From India's perspective, the key will be to remain patient. On a surface like this, where there is enough assistance for the spinners, it can be tempting to go searching for wickets and drift away from the basics. Moreover, in the first innings, despite having a cushion of runs to work with, India were perhaps a touch too defensive at times, with the field spread out. Afghanistan have their backs firmly against the wall, but can they grind it out and offer the kind of stubborn resistance Rahmat Shah showed in the first innings? Or will India make early inroads and swiftly move towards wrapping up the contest? Do join us back at 12.10 pm IST (6.40 am GMT) to find out. Cheers!
Safely negotiated - A short passage of play before the break, and Afghanistan have negotiated it without any damage. The positive the visitors can take from those four overs was the approach of Sediqullah Atal, who looked far more proactive by using his feet against Manav Suthar. That should be the template Afghanistan need to follow if they are to counter India's spin challenge. They cannot afford to let the spinners settle into a rhythm and repeatedly hit the same areas.
- Abdul Malik 2 (12)
- Sediqullah Atal 16 (12)
Kuldeep Yadav to Abdul Malik, Floated on off, Abdul Malik blocks this off his front foot. That will be LUNCH on Day 3.
Kuldeep Yadav to Abdul Malik, Tossed up, on middle and leg, Malik flicks this to mid-wicket.
Kuldeep Yadav to Abdul Malik, Fuller around off, Abdul Malik pushes this to mid off.
Kuldeep Yadav to Abdul Malik, Full and on the pads, Abdul Malik clips this to short fine leg.
Kuldeep Yadav to Abdul Malik, Wrong'un around off, Abdul rocks back and keeps it out.
Kuldeep Yadav to Abdul Malik, Tossed up, down the leg side, Abdul Malik tucks this to backward square leg.
Kuldeep Yadav to bowl what should be the last over before the Lunch break.
- Sediqullah Atal 16 (12)
- Abdul Malik 2 (6)
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, Pushed through around off, Sediqullah Atal keeps it out.
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR! A brilliant lofted stroke by Atal for four. Flighted, around off, turning back into the batter, Atal jumps close to the pitch of the ball and lofts this over mid off for four. Atal's bat did tilt in his hands at the time of contact with the ball, but he had enough power to clear the fielder.
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, Tossed up, around off, Manav drives this to covers.
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, Much slower, and fuller, around off, turning back into the southpaw. Atal goes for the front foot block but misses and gets hit on the abdomen.
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, Quicker one, on middle and off, Sediqullah Atal rocks back inside the crease and tucks this to deep mid-wicket for two.
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, SIX! Maybe the Afghanistan batters have decided not to let Manav Suthar settle into his rhythm. Tossed up, around off, Sediqullah Atal shimmies down the track and swings through the line. Hits this a long way back over the sight screen for a biggie.
- Abdul Malik 2 (6)
- Sediqullah Atal 4 (6)
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Full and on the pads, Abdul Malik flicks this through the right of Mohammed Siraj at mid on. Siraj chases this, puts in a dive to his right and fields this. A couple taken by the batters.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Back of a length, around off, Abdul Malik gets behind the line and keeps it out.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Hard length, wide of off, Abdul Malik plays within the line and gets beaten on the outside edge.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Right in the channel, on a good length, around off, Abdul Malik pokes at it away from his body but gets beaten on the outside.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Good length, around off, Abdul Malik leaves it as well.
It will be Prasidh Krishna to bowl from the other end.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Full and wide of off, Abdul Malik leaves it all alone.
- Sediqullah Atal 4 (6)
- Abdul Malik 0 (0)
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, Pushes it through now, on a length, on middle. Sediqullah Atal stabs it down by getting forward.
Manav Suthar to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR! Gets it away! Floated up, fuller and turning in, on middle. Sediqullah Atal gets down on a knee and has a slog with the turn. It comes off the inner half and goes wide of backward square leg for a boundary.
Afghanistan, who were dismissed for 152 in the first innings, fared even worse after being asked to follow on and were shot out for 112 in just 35.5 overs. Washington Sundar starred in the second innings with 4 for 36, while Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with 3 for 30.
Suthar became only the 10th Indian bowler and seventh spinner from the country to claim a five-wicket haul on Test debut. More importantly, he provided encouraging signs that India have a ready successor waiting in the wings as Ravindra Jadeja approaches the twilight of his red-ball career.
The young spinner's ability to repeatedly hit the same area, generate sharp revolutions and extract both bounce and turn from an otherwise placid surface marked him out as a bowler capable of succeeding at the highest level. While sterner challenges await, particularly on the upcoming Sri Lanka tour, Suthar's impressive initiation could allow India to gradually plan for life after Jadeja.
Afghanistan's batters, meanwhile, struggled with both skill and temperament. Poor shot selection hastened their downfall in the second innings, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Rahmat Shah among those who perished attempting ambitious strokes. India thus eclipsed their previous best innings victory margin against Afghanistan, which came in 2018 when they won by an innings and 262 runs.
Match Statistics
Venue
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur
