India etched their name in cricket history on Sunday, crushing Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs inside three days to register their largest-ever victory in Test cricket. The one-sided contest, played at New Chandigarh, was a showcase of India’s all-round dominance across every session.
Shubman Gill and KL Rahul led the batting charge with commanding centuries as India posted a mammoth 564/8 before declaring.
Afghanistan were then bundled out for 152 in their first innings, with debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar stealing the show. He dismissed six Afghan batters to finish with remarkable figures of 6 for 33 from 22 overs, while Prasidh Krishna chipped in with 3 for 37.
Enforcing the follow-on with a lead of 412, India found Afghanistan putting up a more positive effort in their second dig, with Sediqullah Atal striking an enterprising 42.
However, India’s spinners proved too good. Washington Sundar dismissed Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi, and Azmatullah Omarzai in a decisive post-tea spell, finishing with 4 for 36 in the innings. Kuldeep Yadav then wrapped up the tail with three wickets as Afghanistan were bowled out for 112.
Suthar’s seven-wicket match haul, combined with Gill’s and Rahul’s centuries and Sundar’s all-round contribution, ensured India controlled proceedings from the very first session to the last.
