One-off Test: Manav Suthar stars on debut with 6/33 as India bowl out Afghanistan for 152, enforce follow-on

India tightened their grip on the one-off Test against Afghanistan as debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar starred with a sensational six-wicket haul, bowling the visitors out for 152 and forcing the follow-on before lunch on Day 3 at the PCA Stadium on Monday.

After piling up 564/8 declared in their first innings, India needed just 58.4 overs to dismantle Afghanistan’s batting line-up. Suthar was the chief architect of the collapse, finishing with outstanding figures of 6/33 to leave the visitors trailing by 412 runs.

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Resuming the day on 113/5, Afghanistan pinned their hopes on overnight batter Rahmat Shah to steer them towards respectability. However, with the pitch offering increasing assistance to the spinners, India maintained relentless pressure and never allowed the visitors to build any meaningful momentum.

Debutant left-arm spinner #ManavSuthar enjoyed a dream start to his Test career, claiming a six-wicket haul as India bowled out Afghanistan for 152 in their first innings and enforced the follow-on. At lunch on Day 3 of the one-off Test at the PCA Stadium on Monday, Afghanistan… pic.twitter.com/ilW2NATdwr

— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) June 8, 2026

The breakthrough came early in the morning session when Prasidh Krishna castled Azmatullah Omarzai, who departed without scoring after facing 10 deliveries. The dismissal reduced Afghanistan to 118/6 and exposed the lower order, paving the way for India’s bowlers to seize complete control of the contest.

He found brief support from Sharafuddin Ashraf, who battled through a visible quad injury and added 24 runs for the seventh wicket. The pair frustrated India for a period, with Rahmat unfurling a few crisp drives and Ashraf showing commendable determination despite struggling to run between the wickets.

Just when Afghanistan appeared to be stabilising, Suthar returned to break the stand. Ashraf, attempting an ambitious slog, edged behind to Rishabh Pant, with India successfully overturning the on-field decision through a review. The breakthrough opened the floodgates.

Suthar then produced the moment of the innings when he castled Rahmat for 60 with a beautifully flighted delivery that dipped, turned and crashed into the stumps as the batter attempted a sweep. The wicket brought up the spinner’s maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket and effectively ended Afghanistan’s resistance.

The debutant was not done yet. He trapped Mohammad Saleem Safi lbw and finished with outstanding figures of 6/33 from 22 overs, becoming only the 10th Indian and seventh spinner from the country to claim a five-wicket haul on Test debut.

Washington Sundar wrapped up the innings when Ziaur Rahman Sharifi holed out to Pant, leaving Afghanistan all out for 152 in 58.4 overs. Rahmat’s 60 was the only substantial score as Afghanistan lost their last five wickets for just 36 runs.

With a lead of 412 runs, India had little hesitation in enforcing the follow-on, handing Suthar another opportunity to add to a memorable performance on debut.

Brief Scores: India 564/8 dec in 127 overs (Shubman Gill 126, KL Rahul 100, Rishabh Pant 81, Sai Sudharsan 81, Washington Sundar 52*; Mohammad Saleem Safi 6-140) lead Afghanistan 152/10 in 58.4 overs (Rahmat Shah 60, Hashmatullah Shahidi 20; Manav Suthar 6-33, Prasidh Krishna 3-37, Washington Sundar 1-21) by 412 runs.

(With agency  inputs)