India tightened the screws on Afghanistan on the third day of the one-off Test in New Chandigarh, reducing the visitors to 113 for 5 and moving within three wickets of a comprehensive victory.
India’s bowlers take charge
After declaring their first innings on a mountainous 564 for 8, India turned to their attack to finish the job — and the bowlers responded. Prasidh Krishna struck three times, including the prize wicket of Azmatullah Omarzai for a duck to leave Afghanistan six down. Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with two, removing Rahmanullah Gurbaz to keep the pressure relentless.
Afghanistan’s resistance rested largely on Rahmat Shah, who battled to a resilient half-century and was joined by Sharafuddin Ashraf as the visitors tried to stretch the contest into a fourth day. But trailing by more than 450 runs, their task was survival rather than parity.
The platform India built
The win, if it comes, will be built on a dominant batting effort. Captain Shubman Gill led the way with 126, while Rishabh Pant chipped in with a brisk 81 and Washington Sundar an unbeaten 52 lower down the order. That total gave the bowlers the cushion to attack without restraint.
Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, who announced himself with three wickets in the first innings, remains in the hunt for a maiden five-wicket haul as India look to wrap up the tail.
What it means
For India, a result inside four days would underline their depth and their command of home conditions. For Afghanistan, still finding their feet in the longest format, the match has been a harsh lesson in the relentlessness of Test cricket against a top side — bat long, bowl tight, and do it for five days, or the deficit becomes unmanageable.
The bottom line
With Afghanistan five down and the lead enormous, the question is no longer whether India will win but when. Three wickets stand between the hosts and a statement victory — and on current evidence, they may not have to wait long.
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