Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar announced himself on the biggest stage in emphatic fashion as India crushed Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test at New Chandigarh on Monday, recording their largest victory margin in Test cricket.
The 23-year-old returned outstanding figures of six for 33 in Afghanistan’s first innings as the visitors were bundled out for 152, allowing India to enforce the follow-on after posting a mammoth 564 for eight declared.
Afghanistan’s second innings offered little improvement as Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav combined effectively to dismiss them for 112, wrapping up the contest inside three days.
While India’s commanding victory was built on centuries from captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, it was Suthar who emerged as the story of the match. On a surface that had become increasingly benign for most bowlers, the young spinner extracted sharp turn and maintained relentless accuracy to dismantle Afghanistan’s resistance.
Resuming the third day with three wickets already to his name, Suthar quickly added to his tally. His biggest scalp was that of Rahmat Shah, who battled bravely for a well-compiled 60 and appeared the only batter capable of extending India’s wait for victory. The spinner breached Rahmat’s defences as the batter attempted an expansive sweep, earning his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket.
Suthar’s sixth wicket came when Mohammad Saleem was trapped leg-before, completing figures that rank among the best by an Indian bowler on Test debut.
Earlier, Prasidh Krishna provided valuable support with three for 37, using his height and awkward angles to trouble the Afghanistan batters. The visitors never recovered after losing wickets at regular intervals and were dismissed for just 152.
Faced with a daunting deficit of 412 runs, Afghanistan showed brief signs of defiance in the second innings. Sediqullah Atal led the charge with a fighting 42, using his feet effectively against the spinners and looking determined to prolong the contest.
However, India’s bowlers maintained complete control. Washington Sundar was outstanding, claiming four for 36 through subtle variations in drift and flight. He removed several key batters, including Rahmat Shah and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, to break the backbone of Afghanistan’s batting line-up.
Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with three for 30, tempting batters into errors with his loop and guile. As wickets continued to tumble, Afghanistan’s lower order resorted to attack as their only option, but the approach merely hastened the inevitable.
The final wicket fell shortly after tea when Mohammad Saleem miscued a lofted stroke, sealing a comprehensive Indian triumph.
For Afghanistan, the tour ends with plenty of lessons to absorb. For India, the emergence of Suthar provides yet another promising spin option. Few debutants have made a louder statement. In a match dominated by India from start to finish, the young left-armer ensured it would be remembered as the beginning of what could be a special Test career.
Chief Scores:
India 564/8 declared (Shubman Gill 126, KL Rahul 100; Mohammad Saleem 6/140)
Afghanistan 152 (Rahmat Shah 60; Manav Suthar 6/33, Prasidh Krishna 3/37)
Afghanistan 112 (Sediqullah Atal 42; Washington Sundar 4/36, Kuldeep Yadav 3/30)
India won by an innings and 300 runs.
