India Strengthens Position in Test Against Afghanistan
On Sunday, June 7, under the scorching sun in Mullanpur, Shubman Gill’s team, India, took a strong lead in their one-off Test match against Afghanistan. The day showcased a mix of excellent cricket from India and some costly mistakes by the Afghan side, which allowed the gap between the two teams to grow.
India declared their first innings at a whopping 564 runs for 8 wickets. They then put pressure on Afghanistan’s inexperienced batting lineup. Right from the start, it was clear that the Afghan players struggled with red-ball cricket. Opener Abdul Malik, in an early attempt to sweep debutant spinner Manav Suthar, ended up top-edging the ball to Mohammed Siraj at backward square leg.
Highlights from Day 2 of IND vs AFG Test
By the end of the first day, Afghanistan found themselves in a tough spot thanks to relentless bowling from Suthar and Prasidh Krishna.
The second day can be seen in three important parts that shaped the match. The morning session was a mixed bag for Afghanistan. While their bowlers showed skill, they hindered their efforts with poor decisions regarding the Decision Review System (DRS).
Mohammad Saleem Safi stood out as Afghanistan’s top performer. Bowling for 27 overs in sweltering temperatures of 38-39 degrees Celsius, he took six wickets, preventing India from completely dominating the match despite allowing 140 runs.
Umpiring Decisions Hamper Afghanistan’s Chances
Afghanistan might have had a better chance if some key decisions had gone their way. They also missed opportunities by not reviewing certain calls.
One key moment came during an over bowled by Azmatullah Omarzai. He appeared to have Shubman Gill trapped lbw, but the on-field umpire did not give it. Replays later showed that the ball would have hit the stumps. Afghanistan’s captain Hashmatullah Shahidi decided against a review despite a strong appeal from his players.
The very next ball brought another big opportunity when Omarzai found Rishabh Pant’s edge. Again, the appeal was turned down, and Afghanistan did not review. Replays suggested that Pant had indeed edged the ball. Missing these two potential wickets early in the day was a missed opportunity for Afghanistan, which might have limited India’s total.
India’s Commanding Batting Display
India commenced their second day with a clear goal: to score quickly and put themselves out of Afghanistan’s reach. Gill and Pant showed aggressive intent right from the start, which influenced the rest of the batting lineup.
Afghanistan’s bowlers deserve credit for their spirited performance. Aside from Pant, who scored 81 runs while trying to attack Shahidi, many Indian batsmen were dismissed by quality bowling rather than careless shots.
Leading the attack, Safi took six wickets, and his teammates consistently challenged India’s batting order throughout the day. Washington Sundar scored his sixth Test half-century, and Mohammed Siraj added valuable runs late in the innings, helping push India past the 550-run mark.
With just about 40 minutes left before the Tea break, Gill declared the innings at 564/8 after 127 overs, setting the stage for India’s bowlers to take command of the match.
More updates to come…
