- News
- Sports News
- Cricket News
- 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.
The skipper of Afghanistan, Hashmatullah Shahidi walks out next in the middle.
Before the start of the over, the on-field umpire issued an official warning to India's stand-in captain, KL Rahul, due to the team's failure to begin the over within the mandatory time limit. Rahul is acting as the stand-in skipper as Gill is off the field at the moment.
- Rahmat Shah 13 (16)
- Sediqullah Atal 40 (60)
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, OUT! CAUGHT! Rahmat Shah holes out and India have a big wicket. Sundar offers flight, full and on off. Rahmat Shah dances down the track, looking to go down the ground. Manav Suthar at mid off is three-quarters of the way in off the ropes. Shah ends up getting too close to the pitch of the ball, and it comes off the toe end of the blade. It goes flat to mid off, where Suthar takes the catch to his left. Afghanistan are now 3 down for 87 while following on, and the deficit is 325 runs.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Around off, on a good length, Shah guides it to point.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Slightly short, on off. Rahmat presses back but is early into the cut. Chops it down to point.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Shorter and on off. Rahmat rocks back and cuts it through cover-point for a couple of runs.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, A bit short, it stays low, outside off. Shah stabs it down.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Drifting away, on a length, outside off. Rahmat Shah makes the leave.
- Sediqullah Atal 40 (60)
- Rahmat Shah 11 (10)
Kuldeep Yadav to Sediqullah Atal, Offers flight, full and on off, firmly driven to cover.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sediqullah Atal, Bowled at 82 kph, full and on the off stump. Sediqullah Atal defends with the bat close to the front pad.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Shorter and flatter, on off, Shah cuts it late to the left of backward point. They cross.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Across off, Shah drives this full ball to cover.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Pops up in the air! On a good length, on middle. Rahmat Shah gets on the front foot for the block. Gets an inside edge onto the pads but the ball drops beside the strip on the leg side, away from the short leg fielder.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Turning back in, on off. Rahmat presses forward to smother the spin.
- Sediqullah Atal 40 (58)
- Rahmat Shah 10 (6)
Washington Sundar to Sediqullah Atal, Just outside the off stump, on a length. Sediqullah Atal covers the line and stabs it down.
Washington Sundar to Sediqullah Atal, Slower but keeps it full, on middle. Sediqullah Atal leans forward to defend.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Full and fired in, on middle. Shah drops it with soft hands in front of point and hurries to the other end. Mohammed Siraj swoops in but fails to pick the ball cleanly, allowing both batters to get home.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, From around the wicket, pushed across the batter. Rahmat punches it to cover.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, SIX! Nice use of the feet. Sundar gives the ball a bit of air, full and on middle. Rahmat Shah dances down the track and goes with the turn. He launches it over wide mid on for a six.
Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Full and a bit of turn, on the off stump. Rahmat Shah blocks it out watchfully.
- Sediqullah Atal 40 (56)
- Rahmat Shah 3 (2)
Kuldeep Yadav to Sediqullah Atal, Shorter and on off, turning away from the left-hander. Sediqullah Atal hangs back and lets it pass.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sediqullah Atal, This spins away, full and on off. Atal lunges to smother the spin.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sediqullah Atal, Serves the googly, full and attacking the front pad. Atal picks it form the hand and blocks it off.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Shorter and turning down leg, Shah glances it past short fine leg. Manav Suthar hunts it down and prevents the boundary. Rahmat is off the mark with three runs.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmat Shah, Tosses it up, on off. Rahmat drives this full ball to cover.
Rahmat Shah is in next.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, OUT! CAUGHT! One shot too many from Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and he stands there in disbelief. Kuldeep Yadav has his first wicket of the game. Flighted delivery, full and around the off stump. Gurbaz spots the ball above his eyeline, and he goes for the lofted hit down the ground. He takes on the long on fielder but the ball spins back to catch the inner half of the blade. It goes flat and straight down the throat of long on, where Prasidh Krishna bends and takes the catch around his midriff. Afghanistan are now 74/2, trailing by 338 runs.
- Sediqullah Atal 40 (53)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz 24 (23)
Washington Sundar to Sediqullah Atal, Gives the ball a bit of air, full and drifting in, on middle. Sediqullah is solid in defence.
Washington Sundar to Sediqullah Atal, Off-break, full and on off. Atal defends with the bat close to the front pad.
Washington Sundar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Slows it down but the length stays full, on middle. Rahmanullah clips it through mid-wicket and turns the strike over.
Washington Sundar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Full and quick, on off. Gurbaz reaches out and defends.
Washington Sundar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, A bit fuller, on off, Rahmanullah angles it to backward point.
Washington Sundar to Sediqullah Atal, Nearly sneaked through! This comes on with the arm, on a nagging length, on middle. Sediqullah Atal rocks back for the block but the ball keeps a bit low and catches the inside edge before racing down to deep fine leg. The sub fielder, Nitish Kumar Reddy goes after it and hauls it in. Three runs taken.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz 23 (20)
- Sediqullah Atal 37 (50)
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, SIX! Clean strike! Googly from Kuldeep and the length is pulled back, on middle. Rahmanullah Gurbaz picks it from the hand and clears his front leg to pump it over long on for a biggie. Afghanistan trail by 342 runs.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Around off, very full, Gurbaz jams it out.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! Just wide. Loopy ball, floated up there, on off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz goes hard on the drive and can't keep it on the ground. The sub fielder, Harsh Dubey dives full-stretch to his right at cover, but the ball evades him and races away.
Kuldeep Yadav to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Not in complete control but safe. Tossed up, full and wide on off. Gurbaz extends his hands, looking to go inside out. Slices it off the outer half over cover for a couple of runs.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sediqullah Atal, NO BALL! Keeps it full, on off. Atal strides forward and knocks it to the right of mid off for a single. Kuldeep has overstepped.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sediqullah Atal, Looped up, fuller and on middle. Atal digs it out.
Kuldeep Yadav to Sediqullah Atal, This keeps low. Starts on the shorter side, spinning away, outside off. Atal reaches out and punches it to cover.
DRINKS BREAK! A stubborn resistance from Afghanistan in the first hour after the Lunch break. Sediqullah Atal was tested consistently by Mohammed Siraj, but has managed to hang in there. The issue for Afghanistan in the first innings was getting in and not making those starts count. This time around, they will be hoping they can convert their hard work into something more substantial. Patience is the name of the game for India, who have been made to work hard by the tourists. Kuldeep Yadav has been brought back.
- Sediqullah Atal 36 (47)
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz 11 (16)
Washington Sundar to Sediqullah Atal, Flighted, around off, Sediqullah Atal jumps down the ground and drives this to long off for a single. Kuldeep Yadav was well in from the fence and he charges on the ball, fields it and hits the stumps with a direct hit towards the bowler's end. Atal was well inside the crease as the ball struck the stumps.
Washington Sundar to Sediqullah Atal, Tossed up, wide of off, Atal leaves it.
Washington Sundar to Sediqullah Atal, Full and around off, Sediqullah Atal dead bats it.
Washington Sundar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Floated around off, Gurbaz pushes this down the ground to long on for one. This came off the inside half of RG's bat.
Washington Sundar to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, FOUR! A juicy half-volley, around off, Rahmanullah Gurbaz strides close to the pitch of the ball and smashes this grounded through the mid off region for a crisp boundary.
Washington Sundar to Sediqullah Atal, Fuller on off, Sediqullah Atal tucks this through mid-wicket for one. The 50 is up for Afghanistan, and the deficit is 362 runs.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz 6 (14)
- Sediqullah Atal 34 (43)
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Back of a length, around off, Rahmanullah dabs this gently back to first slip.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Good length, onto the pads, Gurbaz tucks this to the mid-wicket region.
Mohammed Siraj to Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Siraj hits the good length area, bowls it around off. Rahmanullah Gurbaz defends this off his front foot.
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
