India tightened their grip on the one-off Test against Afghanistan after a dominant all-round performance on Day 2 at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur. A massive first-innings total followed by disciplined bowling left the visitors reeling at 113/5 at stumps, still trailing by 451 runs.
Resuming from a commanding overnight position, India’s batters continued to frustrate the Afghan bowling attack. Captain Shubman Gill, who had already reached three figures on the opening day, extended his innings to 126 and anchored the Indian batting effort with another mature knock. His innings further highlighted the impressive form he has displayed since taking over the Test captaincy.
India had ended Day 1 at 368/3 after centuries from Gill and KL Rahul put Afghanistan under pressure. Rahul’s fluent 100 and Sai Sudharsan’s valuable 81 had laid the foundation for the massive total. Gill remained unbeaten on 103 at stumps on the opening day, while Rishabh Pant provided strong support with an aggressive half-century.
On the second morning, Pant looked set for a century but fell for 81 after playing a counter-attacking innings. His dismissal ended a crucial partnership that had pushed Afghanistan further out of the contest. Despite missing out on a hundred, Pant’s contribution ensured India maintained complete control over proceedings.
Washington Sundar also made a significant contribution with an unbeaten 52. His composed innings added valuable runs lower down the order and helped India move beyond the 550-run mark. Once the scoreboard reached 564/8, the Indian management decided to declare and give their bowlers ample time to attack Afghanistan’s batting lineup.
Afghanistan’s bowling effort was led by Mohammad Saleem Safi, who claimed six wickets and prevented India from posting an even larger total. However, the visitors struggled to contain the Indian batters for long periods, especially after the strong partnerships established by Rahul, Sudharsan, Gill and Pant.
Facing a huge first-innings deficit, Afghanistan needed a solid start but instead ran into a disciplined Indian attack. Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar emerged as the standout performer with the ball. The young spinner impressed immediately in his first Test appearance, picking up three wickets and putting the visitors under sustained pressure.
Pacer Prasidh Krishna complemented Suthar’s efforts by claiming two wickets. Together, they reduced Afghanistan to 113/5 by stumps and ensured India remained firmly in control heading into the third day. The Indian bowlers maintained tight lines and extracted enough assistance from the surface to make scoring difficult for the visitors.
Among Afghanistan’s batters, Rahmat Shah showed resilience and determination. He remained unbeaten on 43 at the close of play and will carry the hopes of the visitors into Day 3. However, with half the side already back in the pavilion and a massive deficit still to overcome, Afghanistan face an uphill task to avoid a follow-on.
The match has so far showcased India’s dominance in all departments. Their top order produced substantial runs, the middle order added valuable contributions, and the bowlers quickly capitalized on the pressure created by the huge first-innings total. Afghanistan, meanwhile, will need a remarkable recovery if they are to remain competitive in the contest.
As the teams head into Day 3, India will look to wrap up the remaining Afghan wickets quickly and potentially enforce the follow-on. Afghanistan’s immediate objective will be to reduce the deficit and build partnerships capable of extending the match. With India holding a commanding advantage and debutant Manav Suthar making an immediate impact, the hosts appear firmly on course for a comprehensive victory in the one-off Test.
