India’s Test win over Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs gave the hosts their biggest victory in the format’s history, as the one-off Test in New Chandigarh ended inside three days.
India dominated the match from the first innings, declaring on 564-8 before bowling Afghanistan out for 152 and 112. The result underlined the gap in red-ball experience between the two sides and gave India a commanding home victory under captain Shubman Gill.
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar was named player of the match after taking 6-33 on debut in Afghanistan’s first innings. His spell helped India enforce the follow-on and set up a quick finish on the third day.
India’s Test win powered by spin attack
The Test win was built around a strong first-innings total and a disciplined spin attack. After India declared on 564-8, Afghanistan struggled to build partnerships against Suthar, Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav.
Suthar removed key batters in the first innings, while Rahmat Shah offered Afghanistan’s main resistance with 60. India then asked Afghanistan to bat again after dismissing them for 152.
In the second innings, Washington Sundar took 4-36 and Kuldeep Yadav added 3-30 as Afghanistan were bowled out for 112. Sharafuddin Ashraf did not bat because of a quad injury.
India’s Test win exposes Afghanistan’s red-ball challenge
The Test win also showed Afghanistan’s continuing challenge in the longer format. Afghanistan have made major progress in white-ball cricket, but Test cricket remains a tougher task because of limited exposure and fewer long-format fixtures.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said after the defeat that his team lacked experience in the format and would take lessons from playing against India in Indian conditions.
Sediqullah Atal made 42 in the second innings and Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a quick 24, but Afghanistan could not sustain the resistance needed to avoid a heavy defeat.
Suthar shines on debut for India
Suthar’s performance was the standout individual story of the match. The debutant left-arm spinner claimed a five-wicket haul in the first innings and finished with player-of-the-match honours.
India captain Shubman Gill said the hosts had produced a complete performance and had “ticked all the boxes”. He also said the decision to enforce the follow-on was shaped by the conditions and the timing of Afghanistan’s first-innings collapse.
The victory will strengthen India’s confidence in its spin depth, especially with Suthar making an immediate impact. For Afghanistan, the defeat was a reminder that improvement in Test cricket will require more regular fixtures and longer-format preparation.
India’s record victory may not have come against the most experienced Test opposition, but the scale of the result, the dominance of the bowlers and Suthar’s debut performance made it a significant moment in the team’s red-ball calendar.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, June 9, 2026
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