India v/s Afghanistan Test: Two days prove too much for Afghanistan

With Afghanistan at 48/4 in their second innings, still trailing by 317 runs to avoid a crushing innings defeat in their inaugural Test, former India captain Kapil Dev wished that the team scored 100 at least in their second innings.

"Hundred toh banni chahiye (They should score at least a hundred)," the legendary all-rounder said. Here on a private visit, Kapil said Afghanistan would have done well if they took the Test into the third day.

They did cross 100 in their second innings but did not take the game to the next day. Such has been the pathetic batting performance by Test debutants that they were bundled out for 109 in their first innings in the session between lunch and tea, and following on, were 103 to succumb to an innings and 262 runs defeat inside two days. Thus, captain Ajinkya Rahane maintained a 100 per cent success record, following his series-clinching win in Dharamsala against Australia last year.

Welcome to Test cricket, Afghanistan!

Afghanistan cannot be entirely blamed for losing 20 wickets in only two sessions of batting. Having played other associate nations in the ICC Inter-continental Cups (four-day format) in the past and to be pushed into facing a far superior bowling attack of the No. 1 Test in the world, they got a first-hand experience of what Test cricket is all about.

On the auspicious day of Eid, Afghanistan players began the day by arriving at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in their traditional Pathani dress after offering prayers and having a celebratory breakfast at the team hotel to mark the occasion. Once they changed to their whites in their attempt to bowl out the remaining four India wickets as the hosts resumed Day 2 at 347/6, the happy times turned sour on the field of play.

Firstly, overnight India batsman Hardik Pandya made merry against the Afghanistan attack, dominating the eighth wicket stand of 67 with left-hander Ravindra Jadeja. Pandya reached his third fifty in his seventh Test before falling for 71.

No. 11 Umesh Yadav used the long handle to good effect to smash 26 runs before India were bowled out at the stroke of lunch for 474, an additional 127 runs in 26.5 overs in the morning session. Rashid managed to get one wicket to add to his previous night's one by taking Ishant Sharma leg before to finish with a costly 2/154.

When Afghanistan began their innings after lunch, their initial runs came through the edges of Mohammad Shahzad. They looked like sitting ducks against the formidable Indian bowling. Their batsmen rarely moved their feet, staying stuck at the crease and playing at the ball.

It was a procession from the moment Shahzad ran himself out, sprinting for a non-existent single the Twenty20 style and done in by a Hardik Pandya direct hit from point. After Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav struck initially, the spin twins R Ashwin and R Jadeja took over, picking up four and two wickets, respectively.

Ashwin and Jadeja never allowed any Afghanistan batsman to settle down. The minnows may have lasted longer had they used their feet to negate the spin. Their forward defence was nowhere near the pitch of the ball and were clean bowled through the gates quite often.

When their second innings began post tea, they lasted 40 minutes longer but ended up scoring six runs less than their first innings. It was again Ashwin and Jadeja sharing five wickets between them after Yadav and Sharma rocked the top-order.

Only left-handed Hashmatullah Shahidi ended up being their top-scorer in both the innings combined, surviving two hours and 10 minutes in the second innings for his unbeaten 36.

Afghanistan batsmen ought to have shown some improvement in their second innings, learning from the first innings mistakes. The prime example was their captain Asghar Stanikzai going for a wild slog against Jadeja and giving Shikhar Dhawan a catch at covers when patience was the key.

All is not lost for Afghanistan, who will only benefit by having an organised first-class structure and playing 'A' series regularly. But for now, they are still unsure of when their next Test is!