India completely dominated Afghanistan in the one-off Test at Mullanpur, securing a massive victory by an innings and 300 runs. The hosts outperformed their opponents in every department and remained in control throughout the match.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, India posted a commanding total of 564 for 8 declared. The innings was anchored by KL Rahul, who scored 100, and captain Shubman Gill, who contributed 126 runs. Their partnership laid a strong foundation for a huge first-innings score.
Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant added valuable contributions with 81 runs each. Washington Sundar also chipped in with a useful 52. India batted for 127 overs and ensured Afghanistan remained under pressure from the very beginning.
Afghanistan struggled in their first innings and were bowled out for just 152 runs. The visitors found it difficult to counter India’s disciplined bowling attack and never looked capable of matching the hosts’ total.
Holding a massive lead of 412 runs, India enforced the follow-on. The decision paid immediate dividends as Afghanistan once again failed to build any meaningful partnerships in their second innings.
The second innings followed a similar pattern, with Afghanistan being dismissed for 112 runs in 35.5 overs. India completed a comprehensive innings victory and wrapped up the contest with ease.
One of the biggest positives for India was the performance of debutant Manav Suthar. The young spinner displayed excellent control and consistency throughout the match and played a crucial role in dismantling Afghanistan’s batting line-up.
In the first innings, Manav Suthar claimed 6 wickets for 33 runs and bowled 10 maiden overs in his 22-over spell. He followed it up with 1 wicket for 29 runs in the second innings, finishing the match with seven wickets overall.
His impressive all-round bowling effort earned him the Player of the Match award. The debutant’s performance will be a major encouragement for the Indian team as it looks to strengthen its spin resources for the future.
Despite the emphatic victory, the result does not contribute any points to the World Test Championship because the match was a standalone Test outside the official WTC cycle.
Looking at the ongoing WTC 2025-27 cycle, India currently has four wins, four losses, and one draw, resulting in a points percentage of 48.15. While dominant wins are always welcome, questions remain about India’s ability to consistently perform against stronger opposition in challenging overseas and high-pressure conditions.
The convincing victory against Afghanistan provides confidence and momentum. However, sustained success against top-ranked teams will ultimately determine India’s standing in the World Test Championship race.
