Manav Suthar Shines On Test Debut As India Take Control Against Afghanistan On Day 2

Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar made an immediate impact in Test cricket, claiming three wickets to put India firmly in control against Afghanistan on the second day of their one-off Test on Sunday. His disciplined and classical spin bowling helped dismantle the Afghan batting lineup as India tightened their grip on the contest.

India declared their first innings at 564 for 8 after Washington Sundar’s composed half-century, which included a valuable 54-run partnership with Suthar, who also contributed a quick 28 off 41 balls. In response, Afghanistan struggled under pressure and were reduced to 113 for 5 at stumps, still trailing by a massive 451 runs.

Suthar returned impressive figures of 3 for 21 in 15.5 overs, while Prasidh Krishna supported him effectively with 2 for 27. The young spinner’s ability to maintain control, extract turn, and consistently land the ball in challenging areas proved decisive in breaking Afghanistan’s top and middle order.

Also Read: Rajasthan Spinner Manav Suthar Earns Test Debut With 129 First-Class Wickets Behind Him

The 23-year-old from Rajasthan showcased a traditional left-arm spin action, using a high release point and subtle variations in flight and drift to trouble the batters. His consistency in hitting the same lengths while producing different levels of turn and bounce made him particularly difficult to read on a surface offering assistance to spin.

Suthar struck early, removing opener Abdul Malik, who attempted an aggressive sweep shot but misjudged the bounce. He later dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz, inducing an edge with a delivery that drifted and turned away, before claiming his third wicket when Afsar Zazai offered a simple return catch off a ball that held its line and bounce.

India captain Shubman Gill rotated his bowling attack effectively but allowed Suthar extended spells from one end, reflecting confidence in the debutant’s control and rhythm. The spinner’s performance was complemented by India’s strong batting display, particularly from Rishabh Pant, who scored a fluent 81 before being dismissed against the run of play.

Earlier, Gill led from the front with a commanding 126, anchoring India’s dominant first-innings total. Afghanistan pacer Mohammad Saleem stood out with six wickets but received limited support as India’s batting depth proved overwhelming in testing conditions. With India firmly ahead and Afghanistan struggling to build partnerships, Suthar’s debut performance has added a promising new dimension to India’s spin resources, offering selectors further options in the longer format going forward.

Also Read: Kuldeep Yadav Mentors Manav Suthar And Harsh Dubey Before Afghanistan Test