India crush Afghanistan by an innings and 300 Runs
India produced a record-breaking performance in the one-off Test against Afghanistan at Mullanpur, securing a massive victory by an innings and 300 runs inside three days. The emphatic triumph surpassed India’s previous biggest Test win by an innings margin and highlighted the team’s dominance in all departments throughout the contest.
After winning the toss and opting to bat, India piled up a commanding 564 for 8 declared. The hosts’ batters laid the foundation for a huge first-innings lead, with several top-order players making significant contributions and ensuring Afghanistan were immediately placed under pressure.
Afghanistan struggled to respond against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar emerged as the star of the match, claiming a sensational six-wicket haul in the first innings. His spell helped bowl Afghanistan out for 152 and forced the visitors to follow on.
Suthar continued to impress in the second innings as India’s bowlers maintained complete control. Afghanistan once again found scoring difficult and failed to erase the enormous deficit, eventually succumbing to a crushing innings defeat. The performance marked one of the most memorable Test debuts by an Indian bowler in recent decades.
The victory was particularly significant for India as it came during the early stages of a new era under captain Shubman Gill. The hosts dominated with both bat and ball, while Suthar’s breakthrough performance provided a major positive for India’s future plans in red-ball cricket.
For Afghanistan, the defeat served as a reminder of the challenges of competing against one of the world’s strongest Test sides away from home. Despite moments of resistance, the visitors were unable to match India’s intensity and experience over the course of the match.
With the innings-and-300-run triumph, India not only sealed the one-off Test in emphatic fashion but also etched their name into the record books with the biggest victory in their Test cricket history.
