Debutant Suthar takes three after Gill, Rahul centuries lead India to 564
Dominance in New Chandigarh
The second day of the one-off Test between India and Afghanistan in New Chandigarh proved to be an exhibition of pure cricketing authority. Following a massive total of 564 for 8 declared, India firmly tightened their grip on the match. While the headlines were rightfully claimed by centurions Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, the standout narrative of the day was the spectacular arrival of debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who dismantled the Afghan top order to leave them reeling at 113 for 5.
Batting Masterclass Leads to Massive Total
India resumed their innings from an overnight score of 368 for 3, looking to build an unassailable advantage. Shubman Gill, who began the day on 103, continued his fine form before Mohammad Saleem finally ended his stay at the crease on 126. Alongside KL Rahul’s crucial 100 and solid 81-run contributions from both B Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant, India looked unstoppable. Even the tail showed immense character, with Washington Sundar grinding down the opposition to finish unbeaten on 52.
Despite the mountain of runs conceded, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Saleem displayed immense heart. Bowling with high intensity despite the heat and his heavy workload, he claimed a well-deserved six-wicket haul. However, a lack of DRS usage early in the day proved costly for the visitors, as they missed opportunities to remove key batters before they could inflict further damage.
The Rise of Manav Suthar
The spotlight shifted firmly to Manav Suthar as India turned to spin after tea. The debutant looked composed from his very first over, generating lavish drift and turn that unsettled the Afghan batters. Bowling a marathon spell of 12.2 overs, Suthar maintained impeccable lines and lengths, eventually finishing the day with impressive figures of 3 for 21.
Suthar’s impact was immediate. He struck crucial blows on the stroke of tea and again at the end of the day’s play, stifling any hopes of an Afghan recovery. His ability to extract spin from a surface that offered assistance was a major highlight of the day for the Indian team management.
Afghanistan’s Struggle for Survival
Afghanistan found themselves in a precarious position, trailing by 451 runs by the close of play. While Rahmat Shah offered some resistance with a gritty unbeaten 43, the rest of the batting order struggled against the dual threat of Suthar’s spin and Prasidh Krishna’s pace. Prasidh was particularly effective, producing a ‘snorter’ of a delivery that flattened Sediqullah Atal’s stumps.
The visitors had moments of fortune, including a dropped catch at first slip and a couple of near-misses, but the relentless pressure applied by the Indian bowlers meant that scoring opportunities were rare. As the day concluded, Afghanistan was left with the daunting task of surviving the remaining three days against a rampant Indian bowling attack.
Looking Ahead
With India holding a massive lead and the pitch beginning to favor the spinners, the match is heavily tilted in the host’s favor. The combination of established batting firepower and the emerging talent of Manav Suthar has put India in a position of complete control. As play continues, the focus will be on whether Afghanistan can form a significant partnership to reduce the deficit or if India will force a result well within the scheduled five days.
Aarav Malhotra is a cricket features writer from Pune specializing in player biographies, IPL season stories, and emerging cricket talents. His content focuses on storytelling-driven sports journalism optimized for modern cricket audiences and search platforms.
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