Afghanistan Captain Acknowledges India's Dominance in Test Match
Afghanistan's Struggles Against India
In New Chandigarh, Punjab, on June 8, Afghanistan's captain Hashmatullah Shahidi praised India for their commanding victory, admitting that his team faced challenges right from the start due to poor bowling discipline.
Shahidi recognized India's prowess in home conditions and noted that the match served as a crucial learning experience for Afghanistan, especially in managing pressure. He expressed optimism that his team would take valuable lessons from this encounter and continue to evolve as their success grows.
India secured a remarkable innings and 300-run win over Afghanistan in a one-off Test, thanks to outstanding centuries from skipper Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, along with an impressive debut from spin all-rounder Manav Suthar.
Shahidi congratulated the Indian team, stating, "It was a challenging day for us from the very beginning. Our bowling lacked discipline, and India capitalized on that. We gained a lot from this match, especially since we don't often play this format. Everyone knows India is a formidable team at home. We hope to learn from this experience and improve our ability to handle pressure as we achieve more victories."
He also commended Suthar for his disciplined bowling, which put Afghanistan under significant pressure. Shahidi pointed out that the pitch conditions evolved throughout the match, making batting increasingly tough, compounded by the pressure of the scoreboard.
"He bowled exceptionally well, maintaining a stump-to-stump line, which made it difficult for us. The pitch behavior changed session by session, and the scoreboard pressure added to our challenges," he remarked.
Suthar made a remarkable debut, taking six wickets and earning the Player of the Match award for his outstanding performance. The 23-year-old all-rounder from Rajasthan achieved figures of 6 for 33 in 22 overs, becoming only the 10th Indian bowler and the seventh spinner to secure a five-wicket haul on Test debut.
His impressive spell also placed him in the record books, with his figures ranking as the second-best by an Indian bowler on debut, following Narendra Hirwani's legendary 8 for 61 against the West Indies in 1988.