Ananya Lohia , New Chandigarh - India registered their biggest-ever victory by innings and runs, hammering Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test at New Chandigarh on Monday. The dominant triumph was sealed shortly after tea on Day 3, with debutant spinner Manav Suthar emerging as the star of the match.
After piling up a massive 564/8 declared, powered by centuries from captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, India never allowed Afghanistan a route back into the contest. Suthar ripped through the visitors' first innings with sensational figures of 6/33, becoming only the third Indian bowler to claim a six-wicket haul on Test debut. Afghanistan were bundled out for 152 and forced to follow on, but their troubles deepened in the second innings. Despite reaching 74/1 at one stage, the visitors suffered a dramatic collapse, losing nine wickets for just 38 runs as India's spin attack tightened its grip.
The experienced pair of Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav turned the screws, bowling Afghanistan out for 112 in just 35.5 overs. Opener Sediqullah Atal (42) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (24) were the only batters to offer resistance before the collapse unfolded. Suthar finished with seven wickets in the match and also chipped in with a valuable 28 runs, earning the Player of the Match award in a dream debut performance. His match-winning spell placed him alongside some of India's finest debut bowling performances.
Reflecting on the victory, Sundar said he focused on maintaining rhythm and consistent lines and lengths, adding that the wicket offered assistance for bowlers willing to hit the right areas. With the Test series wrapped up in emphatic fashion, attention now shifts to the three-match ODI series between India and Afghanistan, which begins in Dharamsala on June 13.
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