IND vs AFG 2018: Watch - Dinesh Karthik Bang on with the DRS

Ahead of their historic Test against India, Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai had commented they had better spinners than India.

It was an outrageous comment especially given the fact that the Afghan spinners didn’t have experience of playing in Tests. It was always going to be a tough ask for Afghanistan to counter the Indian bowling attack and it was exactly what transpired on the 2^nd day of the only Test.

India batted quite superbly on the opening day. Openers, Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay, smashed brilliant centuries. However, Afghanistan made a strong comeback in the final session where they bagged five wickets for just 99 runs. India batted well in the morning session of Day 2. It was a fluent knock of 74 from the blade of Hardik Pandya which propelled India to a score 474 runs in their 1^st innings.

The Indian bowlers began brilliantly. The pace bowling duo of Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav bowled in the right areas which got them wickets on a consistent basis. From there on, the responsibility was taken by Ravichandran Ashwin to take care of the Afghanistan batters. Ashwin bowled in the perfect areas and let the pitch do the rest. He gave a rip and finished with four wickets.

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They were bowled out for a paltry 109 in 28 overs in their 1^st innings. Barring Ashwin’s four wickets, Jadeja and Ishant also chipped in with a couple of wickets each.

It was a great piece of bowling by India. After getting a huge lead, India enforced the follow-on. Afghanistan began on a similar manner wicket at regular intervals.

Dinesh got the keen eye

Mohammad Shehzad and Javed Ahmadi were sent back to the pavilion by Umesh Yadav. The two wickets also helped him to reach his 100^th Test wicket.

Mohammad Nabi was sent up the order, as Afghanistan looked to revive their innings. Without adding any score to his tally, a short of length delivery from Umesh thudded on to his pads. Naked eyes suggested the ball would have missed the leg stump. However, the Indians went for the review which proved to be the right choice in the end.

Replays showed the ball would have crashed on to the leg stump. India was not quite sure about the review and the captain Ajinkya Rahane looked reluctant. However, on the advice of Dinesh Karthik, he went for the review which proved to be decisive. Following the dismissal, the Indian team shared a light moment with the wicket-keeper.

Both the spinners were all over him and congratulated him on taking the correct call. India eventually defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 262 runs in Bengaluru.

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