It took Afghanistan just a couple of days to get a harsh reality check on what Test cricket is all about as India bowled them out twice in a day to win the one-off Test by an innings and 262 runs.
After being asked to follow on, Afghanistan were off to a poor start once again. They lost four wickets with just 24 runs on the board. Asghar Stanikzai and Hashmatullah Shahidi then dug in to save Afghanistan the blushes. The duo kept the Indian bowlers at bay for almost 18 overs before Ravindra Jadeja sent back Stanikzai.
In his next over, Jadeja accounted for Asgar Zazai to leave the visitors reeling at 62 for 6. Afghanistan kept on losing wickets at regular intervals and were eventually out for 103.
Coming to the first innings, India did not take long to bowl out Afghanistan. The buildup to the Test was dominated with talks about all the problems the Afghan spinners could give to India. Afghanistan skipper Asghar Stanikzai had even gone on to say that his spinners were better than their Indian counterparts. Well, Ashwin did not take long to show why he was the number one ranked Test bowler not so long ago. The off-spinner took 4 wickets for just 27 as India bowled out the visitors for 109.
The Afghans never looked at ease with the bat and kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Mohammad Nabi top-scored with 24 while no other player could even cross the 15-run mark. That they could not even bat for 28 overs pretty much sums up how hard they need to work if they are to excel in the longest format of the game. Apart from Ashwin’s 4 wickets, Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma took two wickets apiece.
Earlier in the day, Hardik Pandya’s fifty helped India recover from a middle-order collapse and post 474. India were in a dominant position on day one but lost five wickets in quick succession towards the end to find themselves reeling at 334 for 6 from 280 for 1.
Hardik Pandya and Ravichandran Ashwin started the proceedings on day 2 with the scoreboard 347 for 6. The duo looked comfortable but could not stitch together a big stand. They could add only 22 runs to the overnight score before Ashwin was sent back by Yamin Ahmadzai for 18. Pandya, on the other hand, held firm from his end and stitched important stands with the tail-enders to guide India past the 400-run mark. He added 67 runs with Ravindra Jadeja before the latter fell to Mohammad Nabi. Prior to that, Pandya reached his fifty off 83 balls with a four.
Four runs after Jadeja’s departure, Pandya departed too after scoring 71. The knock came off 94 balls and was studded with 10 fours. Umesh Yadav then played an entertaining stroke-filled knock of 26 to take India past the 450-run mark and post a big total.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the day’s play:
Don't worry Afghanistan, all the best teams lose to India by an innings. pic.twitter.com/bI5ENov3zM
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) June 15, 2018
Afghanistan must be ecstatic that in their very first Test they're able to so easily emulate how both Australia and England (Test cricket's most experienced nations) perform in India. #INDvAFG
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) June 15, 2018
The romance of Afghanistan's debut is now face-to-face with the reality of test cricket. Just 28 overs in the first innings.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 15, 2018
Sitting ducks. Afghanistan need to improve massively in terms of their batting for Test cricket.
— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) June 15, 2018
Pro tip for Afghanistan batsmen. Shivajinagar is a great place for Haleem during Ramzan. See you there at 4.30-ish? #IndvAfg
— cricBC (@cricBC) June 15, 2018
Wickets have fallen in a heap. Batting is the department in which Afghanistan cricket clearly looks unripe
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 15, 2018
If India win it today it will be first ever Test in the subcontinent to produce result in 2 days and only second in Asia (after Sharjah 2002). #IndvAfg
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) June 15, 2018
Scores in debut Test innings:
SA – 84
AFG- 109
NZ – 112
Ire – 130
Pak – 150
WI – 177
Ind – 189
Eng – 196
SL – 218
Aus – 245
Ban – 400
Zim – 456#INDvAFG— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) June 15, 2018
Afghanistan 109 in one session beat Shikhar Dhawan 104 in one session.#INDvAFG
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) June 15, 2018
Mohammad Shahzad:
Then – "Why to diet when you can hit bigger sixes than Virat Kohli?"
Probably now – "Why to diet when you can get run out faster than Virat Kohli?"#INDvAFG
— Jaanvi ? (@ThatCric8Girl) June 15, 2018
I still think Afghanistan and Ireland playing each other would have been the best introduction to Test cricket for both teams. But we can't turn that clock back. Come on Afghanistan make India bat again. #IndvAfg
— Rick Eyre on cricket (@rickeyrecricket) June 15, 2018
https://twitter.com/billz_25/status/1007544452049752066
https://twitter.com/GbNaib/status/1007525916623458304
kahan h insaniyat
is nazuk paristhiti mein ballebazi karwa rahe hain pic.twitter.com/MNZwNsL7vN— Arun Lol (@dhaikilokatweet) June 15, 2018
After Dhawan @hardikpandya7 has impressed most, blending defence & attack judiciously. Afghan bowlers showing resolve but catching below par
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) June 15, 2018
As a young kid, I always loved it when the fast bowlers came in to bat and started slogging. Umesh Yadav is creating that feeling amongst the crowd here!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 15, 2018
Let Hardik Pandya become Irfan Pathan first before comparing him with the great Kapil Dev. Let the guy breathe and excel #INDvAFG
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) June 15, 2018
Very nice innings from Hardik Pandya. Controlled, played at the pace he wanted. The innings of a batsman.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) June 15, 2018