Debutant Manav Suthar made an instant impression, claiming the wicket of Abdul Malik with just his fourth delivery in Test cricket and later dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Afsar Zazai. The left-arm spinner concluded with three wickets, allowing just 21 runs in 15.5 overs.
Prasidh Krishna also contributed with two wickets as Afghanistan lost their batsmen at regular intervals, ending the day trailing by 451 runs. Rahmat Shah stood unbeaten on 43, providing the only resistance for the visitors.
“The wicket was providing some assistance, and my strength is making the ball turn,” said the 23-year-old Suthar.
“I aimed to maximize the turn because the pitch was helping. At the same time, I focused on bowling in good areas and maintaining the ideal length consistently.
“Playing for India is a dream for everyone, and I’m incredibly happy to have received my cap.”
Krishna was equally impressive, breaking Sediqullah Atal’s defence with a sharp delivery to secure his first Test wicket in India. He then dismissed Hashmatullah Shahidi, interrupting the Afghanistan captain’s threatening partnership with Shah.
Earlier on Sunday, India resumed play at 368-3, with captain Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant aiming to extend the visitors’ difficulties. However, Afghanistan’s bowlers managed to rein them in, thanks to Mohammad Saleem, who took several crucial wickets.
Gill (126) didn’t last long, as he was caught behind when Saleem got the ball to move away, while the fast bowler also dismissed Dhruv Jurel (19), Suthar (28), and Mohammed Siraj (22).
Saleem, 23, finished with a six-wicket haul in just his second Test match, after having failed to take a wicket in his previous outing in the longest format.
Shahidi successfully tempted Pant (81) into playing at a lofted ball, which the batter lofted to long-off.
Despite the losses, all-rounder Washington Sundar (52 not out) kept the scoreboard moving for India and crafted a measured half-century before Gill chose to declare.
(With Reuters inputs)
