Post by : Shakul
India strengthened its position in the one-off Test against Afghanistan with a stellar display on Day 2 at New Chandigarh. Following a formidable first innings declaration at 564 for 8, they cast Afghanistan into a dire situation at 113 for 5 by day's end.
The cornerstone of India's mammoth score was captain Shubman Gill, who scored an impressive 126, alongside KL Rahul, who contributed a solid century. Their performances ensured prolonged pressure on the Afghan fielders, asserting India's dominance in the contest.
Rishabh Pant further propelled the innings with a fiery 81, showcasing his expansive stroke play. Washington Sundar bolstered the lower order with a significant half-century, pushing India past the 550-mark. Additionally, debutant Manav Suthar added a handy 28 runs, emphasizing the team's batting depth.
Afghanistan had a highlight in fast bowler Mohammad Saleem, who excelled despite tougher conditions, taking six wickets for 140 runs — the best figures of his Test career and a milestone as only the second Afghan bowler to achieve this against a major Test nation.
Facing an uphill battle, Afghanistan struggled to construct partnerships. Debutant Manav Suthar too, made a swift impact with his spin, claiming three wickets for just 21 runs, thus maintaining pressure on Afghanistan’s batting.
Bowler Prasidh Krishna supported well, capturing two vital wickets and keeping the Afghan batsmen in check with his sharp pace. Although captain Hashmatullah Shahidi and Rahmat Shah sought to stabilize the innings, India's steady breakthroughs kept them in firm command throughout the session.
As play concluded, Rahmat Shah remained not out on 43, carrying Afghanistan's fragile hopes for the next day. However, with a daunting deficit of 451 runs, India appears poised to secure a comprehensive Test victory over Afghanistan as they head into Day 3.
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