Manav Suthar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Coming in with the arm, short and on the off stump. Gurbaz hops back and chops it down on the off side.
Manav Suthar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Shorter now, on off. Gurbaz hangs back to defend.
Manav Suthar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX! Courageous shot! Suthar stays full and this is quicker through the air, on off and middle. Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets a good stride in and takes the risk of going against the turn. He sweeps it hard and over square leg for a flat six.
Manav Suthar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Edged, but it does not carry. Keeps it nice and full, on off and middle. Gurbaz leans on for the block. He does so with soft hands. That results in the outside edge not carrying to KL Rahul at first slip.
Manav Suthar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Nicely bowled. Gives it a bit of air, fuller and on middle. Gurbaz gets forward but the ball drops on him before spinning past the outside edge.
Manav Suthar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Floated up, on off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz gets forward to defend.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Delivers it on a back of a length, on middle. Atal nudges it behind square to the right of deep fine leg for a couple of runs.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Just outside the off stump, this is on a good length. A watchful leave by Sediqullah.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Targets the off pole with a good-length delivery. Atal covers the line and solidly defends.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Pushes the length up, on off. Atal attempts the drive but plays across the line of the ball. It drops off the outer half on the off side.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Bowls it in the channel, on a good length. Sediqullah Atal shoulders arms.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Hits the back of a length from around the wicket, on off. Atal stands tall, rides the bounce and pats it down on the off side.
Manav Suthar delivers a wicket maiden to start his Test career. Prasidh Krishna will be bowling from the other end.
Manav Suthar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Flatter and shorter now, on middle. Gurbaz presses back and pushes it to cover.
Manav Suthar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Beaten! Drifting back in from around the wicket, full and on the off stump. Gurbaz leans forward for the block but is beaten as the ball rips past the outside edge.
We are all set for the post-Tea session to get underway. Shubman Gill leads his men out onto the park. Rahmanullah Gurbaz has joined Sediqullah Atal out in the middle. Manav Suthar has two balls left in his over. Two slips and a short leg in place. Let's play...
... DAY 2, SESSION 3 ...
Late strike dents Afghanistan's positive start - With only a brief period left before the Tea break, the Afghanistan openers walked out with a watchful approach. Just as it looked like Afghanistan would walk into the break unscathed, debutant Manav Suthar was introduced into the attack in the 6th over and immediately struck, removing opener Abdul Malik. The late breakthrough severely dented the visitors' early momentum, leaving Afghanistan at 28 for 1 at the interval. While India remains firmly in control, the upcoming final session promises an intriguing battle as the Indian spinners look to exploit a track already offering visible assistance. We will be back at 2.30 pm IST (9 am GMT) for the final session of the day.
Saleem’s six-wicket haul - Amid the Indian onslaught, fast bowler Mohammad Saleem was the absolute standout performer for the visitors. Saleem bowled with great heart to claim his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket, finishing with exceptional figures of 6 wickets. Captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and pacer Ziaur Rahman chipped in with one wicket apiece. Despite Saleem’s heroic efforts, the sheer depth of the Indian batting line-up ensured the hosts stayed firmly in the driver's seat.
Solid start to Day 2 - Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant started the morning session with supreme confidence. The duo comfortably handled the early morning conditions to extend their formidable partnership to 169 runs. Shubman Gill, looking solid and imperial, was eventually dismissed for a masterful 126. His departure ended a crucial stand that had already put India in a position of complete command. Debutant Manav Suthar enjoyed a highly impressive first outing with the bat, chipping in with a valuable 28 runs. Washington Sundar was sensational as ever, anchoring the lower-order surge with a brilliant, unbeaten 52. That allowed India to declare their first innings at a towering 564 for 8 in the afternoon session.
TEA ON DAY 2 - As the debutant gets his maiden scalp, the umpires have decided to take Tea. The Afghanistan opening pair looked solid until the introduction of spin. Things are bound to get more and more difficult for the visitors, as India will have a quality spin trio of Manav Suthar, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, OUT! CAUGHT! Manav Suthar has his maiden Test wicket. A moment to remember for the young man. Floated up by Suthar, on a length, on off. Abdul Malik reaches out in front and goes hard on the sweep. He fails to roll his wrists over the ball and get on top of the bounce. The hard, new ball kicks up a bit to catch the top edge. It balloons behind on the leg side. Mohammed Siraj runs in from backward square leg, and KL Rahul also converges from first slip by running to his left. A bit of miscommunication, but Siraj goes for the catch eventually, as he gets low and takes the catch around his ankle. Afghanistan are 28/1, trailing by 536 runs.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, More turn. Turning away sharply, on a nagging length, outside off. Abdul lets it go.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Shorter and around off, turning away. Malik does not go searching for the ball and plays inside the line but misses.
Manav Suthar to Abdul Malik, Goes past the bat! Flighted delivery, full and outside off, Malik is drawn forward but the ball spins away to beat him on the outside edge.
Time for the debutant to roll his arm over. Manav Suthar is called into action.
Mohammed Siraj to Sediqullah Atal, Back to over the wicket, on a length, on the off stump. Sediqullah covers the line and stabs it down.
Mohammed Siraj to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR! Lovely shot! Siraj comes from around the wicket and dishes out a full ball, outside off. Atal leans into the drive and plays it all along the ground between cover and mid off for his second boundary.
Mohammed Siraj to Sediqullah Atal, Drags the length back and pushes it across. Atal presses forward and drops his bat down on the ball. It goes off the outer half to point.
Mohammed Siraj to Sediqullah Atal, Fuller on off, Sediqullah slices it to backward point.
Mohammed Siraj to Sediqullah Atal, Fuller and on off. Atal dabs it to point off the front foot.
Mohammed Siraj to Sediqullah Atal, FOUR! Edged away! Going across the left-hander, on a length. Atal does well not to push at the ball with hard hands. He tries to block it with soft hands. It goes behind on the bounce off an outside edge and beats the diving KL Rahul at second slip for a four.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Goes full at 141.4 kph, on off. Sediqullah squeezes it out wide of point for a run.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, At the sticks, on a good length. Sediqullah Atal blocks it out by getting behind the line of the ball.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, From around the wicket, on a nagging length, on off. Atal defends it watchfully.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, No ball! Served on a good length, on off and middle. Abdul Malik tries to cover the line but the ball moves back off the deck. Ekes out an inside edge onto the pads and the batters cross over as the ball drops beside the strip on the leg side. The siren goes off as Prasidh has overstepped.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Pushes the length up now, on off. Abdul gets right behind the line to defend.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, FOUR! Off the edge! Delivers it on a back of a length, over off. Malik presents a straight bat and defends it with soft hands. The outside edge goes down and past gully's left for a boundary.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Not far away from the off stump. At 139.5 kph, on a good length, just outside the off stump. Abdul Malik makes the leave.
Mohammed Siraj to Sediqullah Atal, A bit fuller, inviting the drive, outside off, Atal shoulders arms.
Mohammed Siraj to Sediqullah Atal, Beaten again! Angling away, on a length. Sediqullah is drawn forward but is beaten as the ball cuts away off the deck.
Mohammed Siraj to Sediqullah Atal, Leaving the left-hander and this is bowled fuller. Sediqullah brings his bat out in front but the ball leaves him to go past the outside edge.
Mohammed Siraj to Abdul Malik, Attacking the front pad with a good-length ball. Abdul leans across and nudges it towards square leg for a single.
Mohammed Siraj to Abdul Malik, FOUR! And again! This is fuller, but Siraj once again drifts onto the pads. Malik stays balanced at the crease and clips it to the right of mid-wicket for four more.
Mohammed Siraj to Abdul Malik, FOUR! Nicely clipped! At 135.6 kph, slightly too straight, on the pads, on a good length. Malik lets the ball come to him and flicks it off the pads through square leg for a four.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, Across off, on a short of a length. Atal defends it close to his body.
Prasidh Krishna to Sediqullah Atal, On the pads, on a back of a length. Atal hangs back and flicks it through square leg for a couple of runs to open his account.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Angled in at the sticks now and the length stays full, Abdul gets on the front foot and taps it back towards the bowler. Krishna sticks out his left hand but can't make the stop. It dribbles towards mid off and the batters cross over.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Serves it slightly fuller, outside off. Malik offers no shot. The ball carries to Rishabh Pant around the shoelaces.
Prasidh Krishna to Abdul Malik, Moving away in the air a touch, on a length, outside off. Malik lets it go.