India’s Manav Suthar claimed seven wickets in the match on his Test debut as India thrashed Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs on Monday, sealing the biggest victory in their Test history.
India forced Afghanistan to follow on after posting 564-8 declared. The visitors were then bowled out for 112 in their second innings on the third day of the one-off Test in New Chandigarh.
Left-arm spinner Suthar played a key role in the victory. He took 6-33 in Afghanistan’s first innings as they were dismissed for 152. He finished with match figures of 7 wickets and was named player of the match.
The result surpassed India’s previous biggest Test win, an innings and 272-run victory over the West Indies in Rajkot in 2018.
India’s batters laid the foundation for the win. Captain Shubman Gill led the way with 126, while opener KL Rahul scored 100.
“A complete win, ticked all the boxes so very happy,” Gill said after the match.
Afghanistan showed some resistance in the morning session of their first innings. Rahmat Shah made 60 and reached his sixth Test fifty. He shared a partnership with Sharafuddin Ashraf before Suthar broke the stand by trapping Ashraf lbw.
Suthar then bowled Rahmat and dismissed Mohammad Saleem for a duck three balls later. The 23-year-old became only the fifth Indian bowler and the first since Ravichandran Ashwin in 2011 to take six wickets in an innings on Test debut.
Afghanistan started their second innings steadily before Mohammed Siraj removed Abdul Malik for eight. Kuldeep Yadav then ended Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s resistance on 24, while Washington Sundar dismissed Rahmat Shah for 13.
Sundar also removed captain Hashmatullah Shahidi for five as wickets continued to fall. Suthar picked up his seventh wicket of the match when he trapped Afsar Zazai lbw for eight.
Kuldeep wrapped up the innings by dismissing debutant Nangeyalia Kharote and Mohammad Saleem in successive deliveries. Afghanistan were bowled out in 35.5 overs, with 14 wickets falling on the final day.
Sundar and Kuldeep shared seven wickets between them in the second innings.
Speaking after his dream debut, Suthar said the key lesson was to remain patient and stick to his plans.
“Keep being patient, stick to your plans and keep hitting the right areas consistently,” he said.
Afghanistan captain Shahidi said his side would learn from the experience.
“I think we learned a lot from this game because we don’t get enough opportunities to play this format, but everybody knows that India is a tough team playing in their own conditions. Hopefully we learn to play under pressure,” he said.
It was Afghanistan’s 13th Test match since gaining Test status. Their first Test against India in 2018 also ended in a heavy defeat by an innings and 262 runs.
