India were on top in their Test match against Afghanistan, as they proved to be too good for the new-comers in Bengaluru.
After posting a commendable total in the first innings, Indian pacers and spinners were on the forefront for the rest of the game.
Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma were very good at the top, as they took early wickets in both the innings. On the other hand, spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja proved why they are the best spin duo in the world.
Both of them were effective in both the innings and the Afghan middle order did not have any answers to their deliveries. Although, still playing their very first Test game, Afghanistan will take a lot of learning points from the game.
Incidentally, this game curtailed in just two days. But a few records were recorded during the game. The Indian team managed to bowl out the opposition in both the innings in a mere 399 balls.
It is the least number of balls bowled by an Indian side in a winning Test. The fewest balls India needed to win a game before Afghan Test was against Australia in 2004.
In the final Test match of that epic series, Indian spinners came into the fore during the second innings. They managed to defend a mere 106 runs in the fourth innings. Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble and Murali Kartik were the chief architects in the game back then in Mumbai.
India were also able to win the Test in Dhaka in just 569 balls after bowling out Bangladesh twice. The only other instance where they won the Test in under 600 deliveries was against Zimbabwe in 2005. The team needed just 596 balls to win the game at Harare 13 years ago.
Fewest balls bowled by India in a winning Test:
399 v Afg, Bengaluru, 2018*
554 v Aus, Mumbai WS, 2004
569 v Ban, Dhaka, 2007
596 v Zim, Harare, 2005
Afghanistan will now play some continuous limited-overs cricket over the next six months.
On the other hand, India are set to tour England next month and play a full tour which also includes five Test matches.