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The Only Test between India and Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh (Mullanpur) witnessed a masterclass in spin bowling on Day 3. Beginning on June 06, 2026, this highly anticipated encounter firmly established India’s dominance in the longest format. Resuming their first innings under immense pressure, Afghanistan’s batting lineup stood absolutely no chance against a relentless Indian bowling attack, spearheaded by a phenomenal debutant who turned the match heavily in the hosts’ favour.
Manav Suthar’s six-wicket masterclass on debut against Afghanistan on Day 3
The narrative of Day 3 belonged entirely to young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who sent shockwaves through the cricketing world with an exceptional debut performance. Showing no signs of big-stage nerves, Suthar ripped through the Afghan batting order with remarkable precision, finishing his first-innings spell with staggering figures of 22-10-33-6. Suthar’s relentless accuracy and deceptive drift completely choked the runs, maintaining a microscopic economy rate of just 1.50.
Suthar started his carnage by dismissing opener Abdul Malik (16) and later induced an edge from the dangerous Rahmanullah Gurbaz (12). He also won a crucial caught-and-bowled battle against wicketkeeper Afsar Zazai (32). However, the ultimate climax of his masterclass arrived in the 58th over. Suthar first dismissed a fighting Rahmat Shah for 60, and just three balls later, deceived Mohammad Saleem. Tossed up beautifully on middle and leg, the ball spun sharply past Saleem’s forward defensive prod, trapping him plumb leg-before-cookie. While Saleem walked away without using a review, despite the ball tracking later suggesting it pitched marginally outside leg, the stadium erupted. Suthar’s six-wicket haul instantly sent fans wild on social media, cementing a debut for the history books.
Here’s how fans reacted:
Manav Suthar🔥🔥🔥
Best wishes for a wonderful career ahead.
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99)
Man, oh Manav! 6️⃣/3️⃣3️⃣ 👏🏼
That's some intro to Test cricket! 🥳— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL)
Test debut ✅
Wicket in his first over ✅
Fifer in his first innings ✅Test cricket, welcome to Manav Suthar 👏
— Lucknow Super Giants (@LucknowIPL)
Manav Suthar created history on debut
• He got 6 wickets so far
• Dream debut for this young player— Hot cricket club (@SportsTectician)
DREAM TEST DEBUT FOR MANAV SUTHAR 🇮🇳
– Debut to remember for Manav Suthar, REMARKABLE.🙌
— Maina Singh (@Maina_Singhx77)
MANAV SUTHAR IS HERE TO RULE…!!!!
– Five wicket haul on his Debut, The star in making in Test Cricket. 🥺🇮🇳
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns)
MANAV SUTHAR – REMEMBER THE NAME. 🫡
23-Years old Manav Suthar picks 5 wicket haul on his debut Test – What a moment for him. ♥️
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh)
Manav Suthar 5 wicket haul in debut match
– Total 6 wickets in first inningNow think about idiots making vile comments, Calling him GT quota
— Raja (@_raja_kumar)
BEST FIGURES ON DEBUT INNINGS IN TEST BY INDIAN SPINNERS : 🇮🇳
8-61 – Narendra Hirwani vs West Indies
6-33 – Manav Suthar vs Afghanistan
6-103 – Dilip Doshi vs Australia— Maina Singh (@Maina_Singhx77)
I really love left-arm spin bowlers.
My favorite left-arm spinners for India:
Jadeja
AxarI didn’t watch B. Chandrasekhar
Manav Suthar with his height turn bounce. If he improves his batting he could be as good as Jadeja.
— ’ (@ddgautam_)
Manav Suthar ends his dream debut Test innings with 6/33.
Among Indian spinners, he boasts the third best bowling figure in any innings of debut Test.
Only Narendra Hirwani (8/61 & 8/75 vs WI, Chennai, 1988) has bettered him.
— Saptak Sanyal (@SanyalwithStats)
India impose a follow-on against Afghanistan on Day 3 of Mullanpur Test
Suthar’s magical spell meant Afghanistan’s first innings collapsed for a meagre 152 runs in 58.4 overs, failing miserably to counter India’s massive first-innings total of 564/8 declared. India’s batting mountain was constructed on the back of brilliant centuries by skipper Shubman Gill (126) and KL Rahul (100), well-supported by elegant fifties from Sai Sudharsan (81), Rishabh Pant (81), and Washington Sundar (52 not out). For Afghanistan, bowler Saleem was the lone warrior with the ball, picking up 5 wickets for 140 runs.
Faced with a massive 412-run deficit, Indian captain Gill wasted no time and chose to enforce the follow-on. Standing no chance of avoidance, Afghanistan was asked to bat again before the Lunch break. Trailing by 394 runs, Afghan openers Sediqullah Atal (16*) and Malik (2*) managed to survive a brief 4-over burst from Suthar and Prasidh Krishna, reaching 18/0 at Lunch on Day 3. With a mountain left to climb and India’s spinners breathing fire on a deteriorating Mullanpur track, the home side looks primed for a massive victory.
