IND vs AFG Test 2026: Historic Victory: India Defeats Afghanistan by An Innings & 300 Runs
The Indian cricket team delivered a dominant performance at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, defeating Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test match. This margin represents India's largest victory by an innings in Test cricket history. After declaring their first innings at 564/8, the Indian bowling attack bowled out Afghanistan for 152 in their first attempt and 112 following the enforce of the follow-on.
Mullanpur Pitch and Weather Conditions: A Test of Endurance
Playing in intense heat exceeding 40°C, both teams faced demanding physical conditions throughout the match. The pitch provided a balanced contest between bat and ball, offering assistance to the spinners as the game progressed while allowing batters to score if they settled in. The host nation wrapped up Afghanistan's second innings in just 35.5 overs after opting for the follow-on.
Manav Suthar’s Dream Debut: The Next Big Spin Prospect
Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar earned the Player of the Match (PoTM) award for his match haul of 7 wickets. Suthar registered figures of 6/33 in the first innings, displaying precision in his line, length, drift, and speed variations.
Manav Suthar (Player of the Match):
"The biggest lesson is that consistency is everything. You have to keep bowling in the same area over and over again. It's a format that demands a lot of patience. Keep being patient, stick to your plans and keep hitting the right areas consistently."
Captain Shubman Gill on Strategy and Team Transition
Indian captain Shubman Gill expressed satisfaction with the team's clinical effort, highlighting the strategy behind the follow-on decision and the long-term vision for India's batting lineup.
Shubman Gill (Indian Captain):
"I think a complete win from us, ticked all the boxes... We decided that if we get them before lunch or just after the first drinks, we'll see if the bowlers are fresh we'll give them a follow-on. Whenever there's a transition, we feel the batting group needs to keep posting 350-400 totals regularly on the board, no matter where we are playing."
Gill praised fast bowlers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna for critical breakthroughs, alongside the spin trio of Manav Suthar, Washington Sundar, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Hashmatullah Shahidi Acknowledges Experience Gap and Positives
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi congratulated Team India and admitted that his side lacks sufficient experience in the longest format.
Hashmatullah Shahidi (Afghanistan Captain):
"The reality is that we don't have that experience in this format... Everybody knows that India is a tough team playing in their own conditions. Manav Suthar bowled really well — stump to stump and very disciplined. That's why we struggled against him." Shahidi noted the return of pacer Saleem Safi from injury and batting contributions from Rahmat Shah and Sediqullah Atal as positive signs for his team.
Washington Sundar and Spin Trio Wrap Up Second Innings
Washington Sundar led the second-innings attack with figures of 4/36, while Kuldeep Yadav claimed 3/30. Sundar, who also scored a half-century in the match, emphasized his focus on rhythm and landing the ball in consistency lengths on a slow track. Injured Afghan player Sharafuddin Ashraf was unable to bat, bringing the second innings to a close at 112.
Statistical Records and Milestone Highlights
- Biggest Innings Wins for India in Tests
- Inns & 300 runs vs AFG, Mullanpur, 2026
- Inns & 272 runs vs WI, Rajkot, 2018
- Inns & 262 runs vs AFG, Bengaluru, 2018
- Inns & 239 runs vs BAN, Mirpur, 2007
- Inns & 239 runs vs SL, Nagpur, 2017
Lowest Totals for Afghanistan in Tests
- 103 vs IND, Bengaluru, 2018
- 109 vs IND, Bengaluru, 2018
- 112 vs IND, Mullanpur, 2026
- 115 vs BAN, Mirpur, 2023
- 120 vs WI, Lucknow, 2019
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What was India's winning margin against Afghanistan in the Mullanpur Test 2026?
Ans: India won the match by an innings and 300 runs, marking their biggest innings victory in Test history.
Q2: Who was awarded Player of the Match in this Test?
Ans: Debutant spinner Manav Suthar received the Player of the Match award after picking up 7 wickets in the match (6/33 in the first innings).
Q3: What is India's next Test tour after this series?
Ans: Team India's next Test assignment is an away tour to Sri Lanka for a two-Test series.
Q4: How many wickets did the Indian spinners take in Afghanistan's second innings?
Ans: Washington Sundar took 4 wickets, Kuldeep Yadav took 3 wickets, and Manav Suthar took 1 wicket in the second innings.