INDvAFG report: The biggest ever Test win for Team India, SEALED!

INDvAFG report: The biggest ever Test win for Team India, SEALED!

By Mumbai Indians

From the first ball until the last wicket, India always had the upper hand at the Maharaja Yadvindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur during the one-off Test Match against Afghanistan. It was three days of complete control by the hosts... centuries from batters, outstanding and a disciplined show from the bowlers sealing one of their most dominant Test victories in recent times.  

Day 1: Shubman Gill, KL Rahul lead India’s run riot 🔥

Mullanpur witnessed a historic start, hosting its inaugural Test Match at the stadium (31st Test Venue in India). Winning a good toss, the Indian batting unit made use of the good conditions early on. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul added 41 runs during the first hour of the first session. Further, Rahul and Gill led the way with outstanding centuries which laid the foundation for a fighting target. The former smashing a 100 off 165 balls - his 12th Test century, while the Indian skipper made 103* (143) aced with 11 fours and one maximum. Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant playing his 50th Test for India notched up commendable half tons. The hosts finished the day in a commanding position with 368/3.

Day 2- India bat big, Manav Suthar’s dream debut 👏

The Indian batting domination continued on the second day, as they kept piling on runs. Pant contributed a handy 81 while Washington Sundar made 52 not out. The hosts declared their innings on 564/8 in 127 overs. Mohammad Saleem was the star with the ball picking 6/140 in 27 overs. When Afghanistan came to chase down their total, debutant Manav Suthar… the young left-arm spinner made an immediate impact with the ball, claiming his maiden Test wicket.

Off the fourth ball of his first over, Suthar claimed the wicket of Abdul Malik who went in for a sweep shot but was caught by Siraj. He later also claimed wickets of Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Afsar Zazai. Suthar finished day 2 with 3/21 in 15.5 overs. By striking in his very first over of his Test career, Suthar became only the eighth Indian cricketer to take a wicket in the first over of his debut game. 

Day 3- India's bowlers just too good 💪

Resuming their first innings, Afghanistan faltered and were bundled out for 152 in 58.4 overs. Suthar continued to dominate with the ball and grabbed a six-wicket haul in the process to demolish the Afghan batting side. He ended with 6/33 in 22 overs which included 10 maidens. Suthar claimed the number two spot for best figures in debut Test innings for India after Narendra Hirwani’s 8/61 in 1988. On the other hand, Prasidh Krishna also picked three wickets.

Enforcing a follow on, the visitors once again were unable to put up a fight thus ending their second innings with 112 in 35.5 overs. Afghanistan lost four wickets for 24 runs in the post lunch session and alas could not find their way back into the contest.  Washington Sundar was the pick of the bowlers with 4/36 while Kuldeep Yadav grabbed 3/30.

Brief Scores:

India 564/8 dec in 127 overs (KL Rahul 100, Shubman Gill 126; Saleem Safi 6/140) beat Afghanistan 152 all-out in 58.4 overs (Rahmat Shah 60; Manav Suthar 6/33) and 112 (f/o) in 35.5 overs (Sediqullah Atal 42; Washington Sundar 4/36, Kuldeep Yadav 3/30) by an innings and 300 runs