Manav Suthar’s Dream Debut: Six Wickets as India Enforce Follow-On Against Afghanistan
Manav Suthar takes six wickets on debut as India dominate Afghanistan Test
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar produced a sensational debut performance, claiming 6/33 as India dismissed Afghanistan for 152 on Day 3 of the one-off Test, before enforcing the follow-on and moving within touching distance of an innings victory. Suthar’s outstanding spell came in Afghanistan’s first innings, where the visitors were bundled out cheaply on a turning surface that increasingly assisted spin.
His figures of 22-10-33-6 reflected relentless accuracy and control, as he repeatedly targeted the same areas and forced batters into defensive errors under sustained pressure. The young spinner’s performance made him only the 10th Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut and the seventh Indian spinner to achieve the feat in his maiden Test.
Despite the milestone, the achievement was witnessed by a relatively sparse crowd of around 500 spectators, even as he cemented his place in the record books. Afghanistan’s innings never gained momentum, with veteran Rahmat Shah offering the only meaningful resistance. Rahmat scored 60 off 135 balls, becoming the first Afghan batter to cross 1,000 Test runs in the process, but struggled for fluency against India’s spin-heavy attack. His resistance ended when he became Suthar’s fifth wicket, falling while attempting a slog sweep.
Also Read: INDvsAFG Test Day 3: Afghanistan Resume at 113/5, Trail India by 451 Runs
Earlier, Prasidh Krishna also contributed with the ball, taking 3/37, including the wicket of Azmatullah Omarzai, who was dismissed for a duck after being bowled by a 140 kmph delivery. Afghanistan’s lower order offered little support, while injured batter Sharafuddin Ashraf’s inability to run freely further hampered any recovery efforts. Following the collapse, India enforced the follow-on and reduced Afghanistan to 18 without loss at lunch in their second innings, still requiring 394 runs to avoid an innings defeat.
The visiting openers showed brief resistance, but the deficit remains massive as India maintain complete control of the contest. Suthar’s breakthrough performance has added a new dimension to India’s spin depth, with his ability to extract turn and maintain pressure drawing praise on a pitch that increasingly rewarded disciplined bowling. With Afghanistan staring at a likely heavy defeat, India remain firmly on course to wrap up the Test decisively.
Also Read: Manav Suthar Shines On Test Debut As India Take Control Against Afghanistan On Day 2
