The Indian cricket team established a commanding position on the second day of the one-off Test match against Afghanistan being held in New Chandigarh. After a dominant display with the bat, India declared their first innings at a massive total of 564/8. By the end of the day's play, Afghanistan found themselves in a precarious situation, struggling at 113/5 in their first innings. India currently holds a massive lead of 451 runs, putting them firmly in the driver's seat as the match progresses into the third day. Rahmat Shah remained the lone fighter for Afghanistan, returning unbeaten on 43 runs at the close of play.
Centuries by Gill and Rahul Anchor India's Innings
India's batting performance was highlighted by two brilliant centuries that laid the foundation for a huge total. Captain Shubman Gill led from the front, scoring a magnificent 126 runs. His innings was a blend of caution and aggression, providing the backbone for the Indian total. Joining him in the century club was opener KL Rahul, who played a composed knock of 100 runs. Their contributions ensured that India posted a total well beyond Afghanistan's reach, while apart from the centurions, three other Indian batters reached their half-centuries. Rishabh Pant and Sai Sudharsan both played vital roles, scoring 81 runs each. Washington Sundar remained unbeaten on 52 runs, while Kuldeep Yadav wasn't out on 9 runs when the declaration was made. Other contributors included debutant Manav Suthar with 28 runs, Yashasvi Jaiswal with 24 runs, and Dhruv Jurel with 19 runs. Mohammed Siraj provided a late flourish, smashing 22 runs off just 12 balls.
Record Partnership and Afghanistan's Bowling
Team India resumed their innings on the second day from the overnight score of 368/3. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant, who were unbeaten on 103 and 50 respectively, continued to build the innings. The duo shared a significant partnership of 169 runs for the fourth wicket. During the second day's play, Gill added 23 runs to his overnight score, while Pant added 31 runs before being dismissed. On the bowling front for Afghanistan, Mohammad Saleem Safi was the standout performer, claiming a 6-wicket haul. Zia-ur-Rehman and captain Hashmatullah Shahidi managed to pick up 1 wicket each, but they struggled to contain the Indian scoring rate.
Manav Suthar's Dream Debut and Historical Record
India's bowling attack, led by debutant Manav Suthar, put Afghanistan under immediate pressure. The left-arm spinner had a dream start to his Test career by taking a wicket in his very first over. On the fourth ball of his opening over, Suthar dismissed Afghanistan opener Abdul Malik, who was caught by Mohammed Siraj. With this feat, Manav Suthar became the seventh Indian bowler to take a wicket in the first over of his debut Test match. The last Indian to achieve this was Nilesh Kulkarni in 1997, who took the wicket of Marvan Atapattu on the very first ball of his debut against Sri Lanka. Suthar finished the day with 3 wickets, also dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Afsar Zazai. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna supported him well by taking 2 wickets, removing captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Sediqullah Atal.