India tightened their grip on the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur as their spin attack continued to dominate proceedings on Day 3. After dismissing Afghanistan for just 152 in the first innings, India enforced the follow-on and left the visitors staring at the possibility of a heavy innings defeat.
The standout performers were young debutant Manav Suthar and wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, whose relentless accuracy and ability to extract turn from the surface made batting a difficult task throughout Afghanistan’s innings. While Afghanistan showed more resistance in their second attempt, the challenge ahead remains enormous.
Afghanistan’s First Innings Collapse
Afghanistan began their first innings hoping to reduce India’s massive advantage, but their batting lineup struggled to cope with the pressure created by India’s bowlers.
There were moments when the visitors looked capable of building partnerships, particularly during the opening phase of the innings. However, once India introduced spin from both ends, the momentum shifted completely.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz found scoring extremely difficult and managed only 7 runs despite facing 33 deliveries. The cautious approach reflected the pressure being applied by India’s bowlers, who consistently attacked the stumps and denied easy scoring opportunities.
The only batter to show prolonged resistance was Rahmat Shah. Displaying patience and determination, he compiled a hard-fought 60 from 135 deliveries. His innings gave Afghanistan a brief sense of stability, but once he departed, the lower order offered little support.
Afghanistan were eventually bowled out for 152 in just 44.4 overs, leaving them more than 400 runs behind India’s first-innings total.
Manav Suthar Continues Dream Debut
The biggest story of the match remains the remarkable performance of Manav Suthar.
Making his Test debut, the left-arm spinner has looked completely at home on the international stage. His figures of 6/33 in Afghanistan’s first innings highlighted both his control and his ability to create opportunities through flight and variation.
What has impressed observers most is his maturity. Rather than trying too many variations, Suthar has relied on consistent lines, subtle changes in pace, and intelligent use of the conditions.
His spell effectively broke the backbone of Afghanistan’s batting lineup and ensured India maintained complete control throughout the innings.
For a player appearing in his first Test match, it was the kind of performance that instantly grabs the attention of selectors, teammates, and fans alike.
Kuldeep Yadav’s Valuable Support
While Suthar deservedly grabbed the headlines, Kuldeep Yadav played an equally important supporting role.
The left-arm wrist-spinner consistently built pressure from the opposite end, forcing batters into defensive mode and limiting scoring opportunities. His ability to turn the ball sharply created uncertainty and complemented Suthar’s style perfectly.
Together, the two spinners formed a partnership that Afghanistan struggled to counter. Whenever the visitors attempted to attack one bowler, the other tightened the screws from the opposite end.
Their combined efforts transformed the innings into a battle of survival rather than run-scoring.
Missing Stars Hurt Afghanistan
One of the major talking points surrounding this Test has been the absence of Afghanistan’s premier spin bowlers.
Rashid Khan, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, and Noor Ahmad were unavailable due to franchise cricket commitments, leaving Afghanistan without three of their most experienced and dangerous spin options.
Their absence has undoubtedly affected the balance of the side. Not only did Afghanistan lose significant wicket-taking ability with the ball, but they also missed the experience and leadership that these players bring in challenging situations.
Against a strong Indian lineup in spin-friendly conditions, the lack of their frontline bowling attack proved costly.
Atal Provides Some Resistance
Afghanistan approached their second innings with a far more positive mindset.
Opener Sediqullah Atal decided that survival alone would not be enough and took the attack to India’s bowlers from the outset. Using his feet confidently against spin, he struck boundaries and even cleared the ropes to disrupt India’s rhythm.
His aggressive approach helped Afghanistan avoid early damage and provided a rare positive moment in an otherwise difficult match.
More importantly, it showed that the visitors were willing to fight despite the daunting situation they faced.
A Massive Task Ahead
Despite their improved start in the second innings, Afghanistan remain under enormous pressure.
The pitch continues to assist spin, and India’s bowlers have shown no signs of easing their intensity. Every session that passes increases the challenge for the visitors, who still need hundreds of runs simply to make India bat again.
For India, the objective is straightforward: maintain pressure, create chances, and finish the job efficiently.
With Manav Suthar continuing to grow in confidence and Kuldeep Yadav finding assistance from the surface, Afghanistan face a difficult road ahead. Unless their batters produce something extraordinary, India appear firmly on course for a dominant victory in Mullanpur and another memorable home Test triumph.
Written by 8JJ.com | June 08, 2026
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