IND vs AFG One-Off Test Day 2: Suthar impresses on India debut to give Afghanistan mountain to climb

New Chandigarh, June 7: Debutant Manav Suthar impressed with the ball as India remain in control during day two of their Test against Afghanistan.

Having started the day at 368-3, India eventually declared on 564-8 before Suthar helped slow down Afghanistan’s batters, with the tourists trailing by 451 runs.

Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant picked up where they left off on Saturday, but Afghanistan were able to stop their fourth-wicket partnership at 169 runs, with the former taken by Mohammad Saleem (6-140) on 126.

Pant (81) followed Dhruv Jurel (19) into the pavilion shortly after, but India kept their momentum going through Washington Sundar’s unbeaten 52, even as Saleem did his best to stop their rhythm with the wickets of Suthar (28) and Mohammed Siraj (22).

Afghanistan then struggled to get going in the chase, largely due to Suthar’s impressive introduction to Test cricket as he bowled for nearly two hours after tea.

Within the first 20 overs, Afghanistan had lost three for 62, with Suthar (3-21) dismissing both Abdul Malik (16) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (12) on either side of Prasidh Krishna sending stumps flying on Sediqullah Atal (17).

Rahmat Shah (43) dug in to keep Afghanistan ticking along to 113-5 by stumps, but Suthar struck again with the final ball as he caught and bowled Afsar Zazai (3).

India’s all-around threat too much for Afghanistan

Afghanistan already knew they had a mountain to climb at the end of day one, but the result looks like it could be getting away from them within just a few days of the Test.

Both KL Rahul and Gill scored centuries in the first innings, while Sai Sudharsan and Pant both contributed 81 in a high-scoring display.

But even Saleem’s six-for was not enough to keep India from running away with it, and an equally strong bowling performance from Suthar was just as vital.

The debutant struck on both tea and stumps, and took 1-20 in a marathon spell of 12.2 overs at one stage, and he looked incredibly comfortable for his first time out on the field.