New Chandigarh: India strengthened their hold on the one-off Test against Afghanistan with a commanding all-round performance on the second day, highlighted by a strong batting display and an impressive debut from left-arm spinner Manav Suthar.
According to Beyond Time News, India built a massive first-innings total before their bowlers reduced Afghanistan to a difficult position by stumps.
India’s Batters Extend Dominance
India resumed the day at 368 for three and continued to pile on runs despite the challenging weather conditions.
Captain Shubman Gill led from the front with a superb 126, while KL Rahul contributed a composed century. Furthermore, B Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant added valuable support with aggressive knocks of 81 each.
Washington Sundar also played an important role. He remained unbeaten on 52 and helped push the total beyond Afghanistan’s reach.
As a result, every Indian batter reached double figures, underlining the depth and consistency of the batting lineup.
Afghanistan Bowlers Fight Back
Despite India’s dominance, Afghanistan’s bowlers produced moments of resistance.
Mohammad Saleem emerged as the standout performer with an impressive six-wicket haul. In addition, Azmatullah Omarzai generated early pressure and troubled several Indian batters.
However, Afghanistan failed to capitalize fully on key opportunities. Costly review decisions and missed chances allowed India to maintain control throughout the innings.
India Strike Early With the Ball
After crossing the 450-run mark, India declared and immediately put Afghanistan under pressure.
Afghanistan’s openers, Sediqullah Atal and Abdul Malik, started cautiously and survived the initial spells from Mohammed Siraj.
However, Prasidh Krishna provided the breakthrough when he bowled Atal with a delivery that sharply moved back into the stumps.
The wicket shifted momentum further in India’s favor.
Debutant Manav Suthar Impresses
The biggest talking point of the day was the performance of debutant Manav Suthar.
The young spinner displayed remarkable control and maturity during a long spell. Moreover, he extracted drift and turn from the surface while maintaining disciplined lines and lengths.
Suthar dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Hashmatullah Shahidi before striking again near the close of play.
He finished the day with outstanding figures of 3 for 20 from 12.2 overs, giving India a significant advantage heading into the next day’s play.
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Rahmat Shah Offers Lone Resistance
Afghanistan struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack.
Nevertheless, Rahmat Shah showed resilience and remained unbeaten on 43. He played several confident strokes and even struck a rare six against Suthar.
However, wickets continued to fall at the other end as Kuldeep Yadav, Prasidh Krishna, and Washington Sundar maintained pressure.
Consequently, Afghanistan ended the day well behind the required pace.
India Remain Firmly in Control
Earlier, Afghanistan briefly threatened India’s lower order when the second new ball generated extra movement.
Saleem removed both Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant after their impressive innings. Yet India had already built a commanding total by that stage.
Now, with a substantial lead and Afghanistan under pressure, India enter the third day in a dominant position.
If the hosts maintain the same intensity, they will move closer to securing a convincing victory in New Chandigarh.
FAQs
Who was India’s top scorer against Afghanistan?
Shubman Gill led the batting effort with 126 runs.
How did Manav Suthar perform on his Test debut?
The left-arm spinner took 3 wickets for 20 runs and impressed with his control and turn.
Who took the most wickets for Afghanistan?
Mohammad Saleem claimed six wickets and was Afghanistan’s most successful bowler.
How many runs did KL Rahul score?
KL Rahul scored a well-crafted century, making 100 runs.
Who is leading the Test match?
India hold a commanding advantage after dominating both with the bat and the ball on Day 2.
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