The cricketing world witnessed a masterclass from the Indian team on Monday, June 8, 2026, as they secured a massive victory against Afghanistan in the lone Test match in New Chandigarh. India emerged triumphant by an innings and 300 runs, setting a new benchmark for their largest margin of victory in Test cricket history. This historic win eclipsed their previous best of an innings and 272-run victory against the West Indies in 2018. The architect of this monumental performance was 23-year-old debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who announced his arrival on the international stage with an extraordinary display of skill.
The tone for the match was set early by the Indian batting lineup, who piled on a massive total of 564/8 before declaring. The innings was anchored by captain Shubman Gill, who scored a brilliant 126, and opener KL Rahul, who contributed a composed 100. This mountain of runs put Afghanistan under immense pressure from the start. The visitors struggled to find their rhythm, collapsing for just 152 in their first innings. Forced to follow on, Afghanistan`s batting woes continued as they were bundled out for a mere 112 runs in the second innings.
Manav Suthar was the standout performer, claiming a total of 7 wickets across the two innings. His first-innings haul of 6/33 was instrumental in dismantling the Afghan batting order, making him the first Indian since R. Ashwin in 2011 to take a six-wicket haul on Test debut. Speaking after being awarded the Man of the Match, Suthar modestly credited his success to the simple plan of bowling consistently in the right areas. His ability to hit the perfect line and length repeatedly proved too much for the opposition to handle.
In the second innings, the pace and guile of Washington Sundar and Kuldeep Yadav ensured that there was no way back for the visitors. Sundar dismantled the top order before the tea break, and Kuldeep Yadav followed up with two wickets in consecutive balls to accelerate the collapse. With Sharfuddin Ashraf unable to bat due to injury, the Afghan resistance ended prematurely. Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted after the match that playing in Indian conditions remains a significant challenge and emphasized the need for his team to learn the importance of patience under pressure. For India, this victory serves as a testament to their squad depth and preparation.
