BENGALURU: When the one-off India-Afghanistan Test was officially announced, it looked like a big mismatch. The hosts were overwhelming favourites, but there was something to look forward to as the war-torn region’s rise to world cricket had been quite the fairytale.
But the debutants were taught a harsh lesson in reality on Friday, as they became the first team to lose a Test in India within two days. India were dominant with both bat and ball. After scoring 347 on Day 1, they added 127 more in the first session of Day 2 before being bowled out. However, it was when Ajinkya Rahane and his men were handed the ball that the gulf between the two teams emerged. The home bowlers had a field day, taking wickets at regular intervals.
With teams likes Australia and England having suffered at the hands of the R Ashwin-Ravindra Jadeja combine in the recent past, Afghanistan were in for a tough task. The duo claimed six wickets between them in the first innings, bundling up Afghanistan for 109. This despite the pitch not offering much assistance.
Following on, things looked worse for the visitors as they were reduced to 24/4. India were closing in for victory, and Afghanistan needed someone to show grit. But, besides Hashmatullah Shahidi (36) and skipper Asghar Stanikzai (25), no one could really hang around.After Jadeja dismissed Stanikzai, Afsar Zazai and Rashid Khan followed next. India’s bowlers cleaned up the Afghan tail to end their innings at a paltry 103.
All bowlers contributed for India, with Jadeja being the pick courtesy his six-wicket haul. Rahane lauded his team for their combined bowling performance.
“The big positive for us was the way our bowlers bowled. They were ruthless, patient, and were thinking about wickets, which is important for winning a Test match. Jadeja and Ashwin are the kind who can bowl on any kind of surface. Jadeja has good discipline. Ashwin has skills; he varies his pace well. The fast bowlers were brilliant too.”
Though India’s bowlers were brilliant, this loss will be the start of a big learning curve for Afghanistan. And Rahane felt that they would go on to realise their true potential in due course of time, “As a Test team, the more they play, the more they will learn. It is just a beginning for them, and you cannot blame them. It is about playing five-day cricket regularly. Tests are all about attitude and patience. With their bowling, they can damage any team. Their batsmen need to learn. If two, three guys can stay in there for longer, they can be a decent side.”
1 India first Asian team to win a Test inside 2 days.
Inns & 262 runs
This was India’s biggest victory in Test cricket.
ashimsunam@newindianepxress.com