ndia declare at massive 564/8; Afghans lose opener early

India asserted complete dominance on Day 2 of the one-off Test in New Chandigarh. After declaring their first innings at 564/8, debutant spinner Manav Suthar claimed his maiden Test wicket to leave Afghanistan struggling at 28/1 at tea

New Chandigarh: India tightened their grip on the ongoing one-off Test against Afghanistan, declaring at 564/8 and striking early through debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar to leave the visitors at 28/1 in 5.4 overs—trailing by 536 runs—at tea on day two.

All-rounder Washington Sundar anchored the lower order with a composed 52 not out, his sixth Test fifty, while Mohammed Siraj provided fireworks with a career-best 22 off just 12 balls before India’s declaration came in the 127th over. Sundar’s fifty was marked by a wristy flick for four off Safi, after slamming a commanding pull for six.

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Promoted up the order, Siraj swung freely, hitting a six and three boundaries before Mohammad Saleem Safi cleaned him up. Safi, who had gone wicketless in his previous four international outings, finished with 6-140 in a breakthrough performance, using variable bounce and sharp lengths to rein in India’s batters through a disciplined second new-ball spell.

India’s innings was built on skipper and local lad Shubman Gill’s authoritative 126, KL Rahul’s century, Sai Sudharsan’s 81**,** and Rishabh Pant’s 81 earlier in the day. But the lower-order contributions ensured the hosts had a healthy run-rate of 4.44 and also placed the innings among India’s fourth-fastest 500-plus totals in Test history.

India’s declaration was timed to give their bowlers two full sessions, and Gill’s decision was vindicated almost immediately. Afghanistan openers Abdul Malik and Sediqullah Atal began positively, finding boundaries against Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. Malik, in particular, struck three fours in his 16-ball stay.

Gill then turned to Suthar just before tea, and the debutant delivered on his fourth ball in Test cricket. Malik attempted a sweep but top-edged it, and Siraj dived forward from backward square to complete the catch as Suthar celebrated with teammates rushing to embrace him. Though Atal remains unbeaten on 11, the visitors are primed to face a trial by spin in the post-tea session.

Brief Scores: India 564/8 dec in 127 overs (Shubman Gill 126, KL Rahul 100, Washington Sundar 52*; Mohammad Saleem Safi 6-140) lead Afghanistan 28/1 in 5.4 overs (Abdul Malik 14; Manav Suthar 1-0) by 536 runs.