India left-arm spinner Manav Suthar took three wickets for 21 runs in quick succession during Afghanistan's innings in New Chandigarh [1].
The performance puts India in a commanding position in the one-off Test match, leaving Afghanistan struggling to avoid a massive first-innings deficit.
India entered the bowling phase after declaring their first innings at 564 runs for eight wickets [1]. The decision to declare allowed the Indian side to press for wickets while Afghanistan attempted to build a stable response.
Suthar's spell proved decisive as Afghanistan's batting lineup crumbled under pressure. By the end of the second day, Afghanistan had reached 113 runs for five wickets in 39.5 overs [1].
The collapse was marked by a rapid succession of wickets that stripped Afghanistan of their momentum. Suthar's figures of 3-21 [1] highlighted the dominance of the Indian bowling attack on the New Chandigarh pitch.
While some reports emphasized the general momentum of the Indian side, the statistical impact of Suthar's three wickets provided the critical breakthrough for the hosts [1]. Afghanistan now faces a steep climb to remain competitive in the match.
“Manav Suthar took three wickets for 21 runs in quick succession”
The disparity between India's declared total and Afghanistan's current score suggests a likely victory for the hosts. Suthar's ability to take three wickets quickly indicates that the pitch conditions are favoring spin, which may further complicate Afghanistan's efforts to bat out the remainder of the match.
