Manav Suthar had a dream debut for India in the one-off Test against Afghanistan, finishing with 6 for 33 from 22 overs and helping to bowl the visitors out for 152.
The fifth wicket
His maiden five-wicket haul came when he trapped Afghanistan’s key batter Rahmat Shah lbw. Rahmat tried to sweep a full delivery and missed. Suthar struck again in the same over to further damage the innings.
The left-arm spinner had already impressed on day two, taking a wicket in his very first over in international cricket and finishing the day with three wickets. He carried that momentum into the next day. After removing Sharafuddin Ashraf to end an important seventh-wicket stand, he moved close to the five-for before reaching it in his next over.
A place in the record books
The figures are the second-best by an Indian debutant in Tests. The record still belongs to Narendra Hirwani, who took 8 for 61 against the West Indies in 1988.
India in control
India’s first-innings lead was 412, and captain Shubman Gill chose to enforce the follow-on. Suthar opened the bowling again in the second innings and created several chances, but Afghanistan survived the testing spell and reached 18 without loss at lunch.
India remain firmly on top in the match, with Suthar’s debut setting the tone.
