IND vs AFG Live: Suthar shines on debut as India eye innings win over Afghanistan

Sunil Gavaskar was particularly impressed not only by Manav Suthar's exploits with the ball but also by the composure and assurance he displayed with the bat. The batting great noted that the debutant looked comfortable at the crease and used his feet confidently during his useful lower-order contribution.

"Manav Suthar has certainly made an impressive start to his Test career. What stood out was not just his bowling, but also the confidence he showed with the bat, particularly in the way he used his feet and looked comfortable at the crease. With the ball, he was extremely accurate and consistently put the batters under pressure," he said.

Gavaskar also praised the young left-arm spinner for making full use of the assistance on offer from the surface. However, he pointed out that a sterner examination awaits on flatter tracks, where success demands greater variation and adaptability from spinners.

"Having said that, this was a highly encouraging debut, and he has shown the attributes to be a strong contender at the Test level going forward," he said.

Afghanistan pacer Mohammad Saleem was rewarded for his persistence in difficult conditions, finishing with impressive figures of 6 for 140. Bowling under scorching temperatures, he consistently troubled the Indian batters and deservedly emerged as the visitors' standout performer.

Saleem struck early on the second morning by removing Gill with a superb delivery that pitched up and moved away enough to find the edge. He later accounted for Dhruv Jurel with a reverse-swinging delivery that crashed into the stumps after the batter decided to leave the ball.

Omarzai too bowled with plenty of heart and was unlucky not to have better figures despite creating several chances. However, Afghanistan's bowlers lacked support and their batters struggled to cope with India's disciplined attack. Facing a daunting deficit of 451 runs, the visitors will need something extraordinary on Day Three to avoid a heavy defeat.

Before India's declaration, Rishabh Pant answered his critics with a mature and entertaining innings of 81 from 121 deliveries. The wicketkeeper-batter blended aggression with discipline, playing his trademark strokes while resisting the temptation to attack every ball. His knock contained six boundaries and three sixes and kept the scoreboard moving during the morning session.

Pant looked set for another Test hundred but perished against off-spinner Hashmatullah Shahidi while trying to accelerate. Charging down the track, he failed to reach the pitch of the ball and offered a simple catch to Azmatullah Omarzai.

The sparse Sunday crowd had expected more fireworks from the left-hander once the spinners came on, making his dismissal a disappointing moment. Nevertheless, his innings once again underlined his value in the longest format and helped India stretch their dominance over Afghanistan in the contest.

Suthar's first wicket came just before tea when opener Abdul Malik attempted an ambitious sweep after struggling to read the spinner. The extra bounce generated by the delivery made the shot look awkward and handed India the breakthrough. He then produced a beautifully crafted dismissal to remove former KKR batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz.

After bowling several deliveries that went straight, Suthar tempted Gurbaz into defending one that dipped late and turned away, taking the edge through to Sai Sudharsan at second slip. His third victim, Afsar Zazai, fell to another cleverly disguised delivery that stopped on the surface and forced a leading edge back to the bowler.

Throughout the spell, Gill backed the youngster with long spells from one end while rotating his other bowlers. Suthar responded magnificently, producing a performance that highlighted both skill and temperament on debut.

Suthar's bowling was a throwback to classical left-arm spin and perhaps the most heartening aspect for Indian cricket. At a time when T20 cricket has turned many spinners into defensive operators, the youngster relied on traditional virtues of flight, loop and turn. His high release point allowed him to impart heavy revolutions on the ball, creating drift before turning it away from right-handers.

Television pitch maps showed his remarkable consistency as he repeatedly landed the ball in the same area but extracted different results. Some deliveries turned sharply, others bounced extra while a few skidded through as arm balls. His repetitive action and ability to deceive batters in the air made him a delight to watch.

If his debut performance is any indication, Indian selectors can feel reassured about a smooth transition whenever Ravindra Jadeja eventually steps away from Test cricket.

India resumed the day in a commanding position and eventually declared their first innings at 564 for 8 after Washington Sundar completed a composed unbeaten half-century. The all-rounder made 52 not out and shared a valuable 54-run partnership with Suthar, who looked comfortable during his entertaining 28 off 41 balls.

The declaration came immediately after Washington reached his fifty, with Gill deciding that the bowlers had enough runs to work with.

Earlier in the morning, captain Gill added only a few runs to his overnight score before falling for a well-made 126. Dhruv Jurel played some attractive strokes but departed for 19. Despite regular wickets, India maintained their dominance through useful contributions down the order. Their imposing total left Afghanistan with a huge task and ensured that the pressure firmly remained on the visitors from the moment they began their reply.

Debutant Manav Suthar emerged as the biggest positive for India as his classical left-arm spin put the hosts in complete control on the second day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan on Sunday.

The 23-year-old from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan returned figures of 3 for 21 in 15.5 overs as Afghanistan ended the day struggling at 113 for 5, still 451 runs behind India's massive first-innings total.

Suthar's maiden Test appearance offered a glimpse into India's spin-bowling future, with his ability to extract drift, turn and bounce standing out.

Skipper Shubman Gill showed immense faith in the youngster, allowing him to bowl unchanged for long spells. Prasidh Krishna complemented him well with figures of 2 for 27. With Afghanistan already under severe pressure, India will head into Day Three hoping to wrap up the innings quickly and push for a comprehensive victory.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, OUT! CAUGHT AND BOWLED! Afsar Zazai stands there in disbelief. Another one drifting into the batter, and turning away after pitching. This kept low as well. Zazai rocks onto his back foot and looks to play the pull. Gets a leading edge towards the bowler. Manav Suthar moves to his right, settles himself underneath it and holds onto it for his 3rd wicket. This will also be STUMPS ON DAY 2. 

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Manav comes from over the stumps, bowls it full and around off. Afsar Zazai gets close to the pitch of the ball and keeps it out.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Fuller around off, Afsar defends this off his front foot.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Length dragged back from Manav around middle and off, Afsar Zazai blocks this off his back foot.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Flighted, around off, Zazai blocks this off his front foot.

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Pushed through on middle and off, Rahmat Shah rocks onto his back foot and keeps it out.

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Full and around off, Rahmat Shah keeps it out with a push back to the bowler. 

Washington Sundar to Afsar Zazai, Fuller around off, Afsar Zazai dabs this off the outer half through point for one.

Washington Sundar to Afsar Zazai, Shorter from Washington, on middle and leg. Zazai hops up on his toes and keeps it out.

Washington Sundar to Afsar Zazai, Quicker one, on middle and leg, Zazai nudges this to the left of short leg.

Washington Sundar to Afsar Zazai, Flighted, around off, Zazai comes down the track and tucks this to mid-wicket.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Tossed up, around off, Afsar Zazai blocks this to silly point. Dhruv Jurel flicks the ball towards the keeper but it goes well wide and that allows the batters to run a single here.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Fuller around off, Afsar Zazai blocks this off his front foot.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Arm-delivery, on middle and off, Zazai stabs it down off his back foot.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Zazai is playing a risky game by going onto his back foot against Manav. Floated up, around off, Afsar Zazai goes deep inside the crease and blocks this out.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Fired on off, Afsar Zazai dabs this to point off his back foot.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Tossed up, wide of off, turning away from the batter. Afsar Zazai leaves it. 

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Full and on the pads, Rahmat flicks this to short mid-wicket. This was flicked in the air but well short of the fielder.

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Quicker and flatter around off, Rahmat tucks this to the leg side. 

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, SIX! Good use of the feet. Pushed through around the off stump, Rahmat Shah shimmies down the track and smashes this up and over the bowler into the fence towards the sight screen. 

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, A bit of turn, on a length, on middle. Rahmat Shah defends it out.

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Full and on middle, steered to backward point.

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Sundar is back with a change of ends. Serves it full, on off. Rahmat gets forward to block.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Fuller around off, Afsar Zazai blocks this out.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Aerial, but it does not carry! A lot of grip and bounce on offer for Manav again as he bowls this around that nagging length on off, turning away from the batter. Zazai cuts, but it goes uppishly off the outer half towards the backward point region. Siraj moves to his right and dives in front, but gathers this on the half-volley.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Arm-delivery, on middle and leg, Zazai jams it off the inner portion of his bat to square leg.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Much slower, short of a length as well and in the line of the stumps. Zazai blocks this off his front foot.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Quicker and fuller around off, Afsar Zazai keeps it out.

Manav Suthar to Afsar Zazai, Manav drifts one in and turns it away after pitching. Afsar Zazai defends this off his front foot. 

Prasidh Krishna to Rahmat Shah, Right in the channel, on off, around that good length area. Rahmat Shah dabs this to point.

Prasidh Krishna to Rahmat Shah, A well-directed bumper, on middle and leg, Rahmat Shah ducks down. 

Prasidh Krishna to Rahmat Shah, Pitched-up delivery, around off, Rahmat Shah drives this past the diving mid off fielder who makes a half-stop for one. 

Prasidh Krishna to Rahmat Shah, Hard length, around off, Rahmat dabs this to point. 

Prasidh Krishna to Rahmat Shah, Back of a length, around off, Rahmat Shah defends this to covers. 

Prasidh Krishna to Afsar Zazai, Short pitched, around middle and leg, Afsar Zazai flicks this through backward square leg for a single. 

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Short of a length, quicker and onto the pads, Rahmat tucks this past the right of the fielder at short leg. 

Washington Sundar to Rahmat Shah, Tossed up, around off, Rahmat Shah prods in front and keeps it out.