A win for the ages: India wraps up historic innings victory in Mullanpur

Things looked grim for Afghanistan by late morning. Sediqullah Atal held on when others fell fast. Not long after, India kept pushing hard through the session. A stubborn knock from the opener slowed them down briefly. Then, just before break time, a single delivery ended his stay. That moment tilted everything sharply toward an outright loss. With little resistance behind him, the scoreboard began telling its own story.

Out after scoring just 152, then facing a crushing gap of 412 runs, Afghanistan had little room for error. Through much of the afternoon, Atal stood firm – calm yet bold – facing down India’s unyielding pace. Still, those around him crumbled under pressure. While he held on, others gave way too soon. The weight of the chase grew heavier with every wicket lost.

Atal fights alone as India tightens their grip

A shaky 12 overs passed before Atal finally found his rhythm, stepping forward even when it wasn’t expected. His 42 off 80 balls stood out sharply amid the rest of the team’s struggle. Instead of waiting, he moved early each time a spinner came near, unsettling their usual flow. Manav Suthar had impressed earlier on his first appearance, yet that didn’t slow Atal’s intent.

Even so, as Atal grew more settled, runs dried up when others lost their grip. Yet each time he found rhythm, a teammate slipped away. Though his bat sang, the scoreboard stuttered behind him.

A delivery from Mohammed Siraj beat Abdul Malik’s guard, sending him back to the pavilion following a careful effort. Off the next few overs, Rahmanullah Gurbaz began shifting gears, slashing his way to 24 at speed. His plan to dominate India’s slow bowlers showed clear signs of working – until a misjudged swing off Kuldeep Yadav sailed high, landing in safe hands deep on the boundary.

A ball earlier, Rahmat Shah had seemed set to build on his early work. Instead of settling in, he tried rushing at Washington Sundar – lofted drive aimed square, caught just inside the rope near mid-off. Right behind that dismissal, Hashmatullah Shahidi reached cautiously outside off, the edge sneaking through to slip where a hand rose almost before the sound arrived. Another catch. Another name added besides Sundar’s tally.

By afternoon, the pitch started smoothing, giving up fewer favors compared to morning spells. Still, India’s pacers held their lines tight, building pressure with each careful delivery.

Just one man standing, Atal held firm till the last delivery before tea. Not aiming to defend, he drove high towards point – clean catch, game shifted. His solid run done, and now Afghanistan trails by over 300, half the team out.

That morning, Suthar stepped up with a standout show in the opening innings – his presence suddenly defining the game. A quiet shift began when his bat started talking, each stroke carving deeper into the contest’s rhythm. Not flash, not luck, just steady command under rising sun. His role grew without announcement, yet everyone noticed. The field tightened. Bowlers hesitated. Momentum leaned his way. Moments like these often slip by unnoticed – but not today.

A fresh face on the field, the young left-armer returned with three scalps under his belt and picked up another soon after. Only moments into his spell, he struck again – this time toppling Rahmat Shah, who’d fought through tough overs to reach fifty.

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The ball leapt unpredictably off the surface, tricking the batter into misjudging the sweep; it slipped past pad and stumps alike. That dismissal shifted something quiet in the air.

A single delivery brought the breakthrough that sealed his first five-wicket haul in Tests. Soon after, the same bowler pinned Mohammad Saleem in front, ending the innings with remarkable numbers – 6 for 33 – joining just nine other Indians who’ve taken five or more wickets on their Test debut.

Fans focused on Manav Suthar, yet Prasidh Krishna stood tall when it counted. A sharp inswinger did for Azmatullah Omarzai – ball biting into the pitch and leaping at him late. Washington Sundar stayed steady through the chaos, mopping up lower-order resistance first. Then came the second knock: two more scalps when Afghanistan batted again, each dismissal quiet but telling.

Afghanistan is behind by 314 and just five wickets standing, inching India towards a commanding win. Unless something wild unfolds, the home team looks poised to finish things off – marking a perfect first appearance for Manav Suthar.

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