Overview
- India resumed Day 2 strong and pushed their first innings to 564 for 8 before declaring, leaving Afghanistan 113 for 5 at stumps and trailing by about 451 runs.
- Captain Shubman Gill top-scored with 126 and KL Rahul also made a century as India’s top order set the platform for a huge total.
- Rishabh Pant (81) and Washington Sundar (unbeaten 52) delivered vital lower-order runs that extended the lead and allowed India to declare with plenty of time left.
- Afghanistan’s Mohammad Saleem returned a six-wicket haul while debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar impressed for India with disciplined long spells and three wickets on his Test debut.
- The match is part of a short series used to test India’s red-ball depth and selectors' picks, and India will look to bowl Afghanistan out quickly on Day 3 to push for a win.