GUWAHATI: India registered the biggest victory in their Test cricket history after defeating Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh on Monday, June 8.
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The emphatic win was anchored by a dream debut from left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who dismantled Afghanistan’s batting line-up with a haul of seven wickets. The 23-year-old cricketer from Rajasthan claimed remarkable figures of 6/33 in the first innings before adding another wicket in the second innings, making an immediate impact in his maiden Test appearance.
After being asked to bat first, India posted a commanding total of 564 for 8 declared. KL Rahul and captain Shubman Gill led the charge with impressive centuries, while Sai Sudharsan, Rishabh Pant and Washington Sundar contributed valuable half-centuries to put the hosts firmly in control.
Afghanistan struggled to cope with India's disciplined bowling attack and were bowled out for 152 in their first innings, handing India a massive lead of 412 runs. Suthar emerged as the chief architect of the collapse, producing a sensational six-wicket haul on debut.
Forced to follow on, Afghanistan failed to mount a meaningful resistance in the second innings. Their batting line-up crumbled again as India’s bowlers wrapped up the innings in just 35.5 overs, sealing one of the most dominant Test victories in recent years.
The triumph surpassed India’s previous largest Test win — an innings-and-272-run victory over the West Indies in Rajkot in 2018. Interestingly, India’s third-biggest Test win also came against Afghanistan, when they secured an innings-and-262-run victory in Bengaluru in 2018.