Manav Suthar debuts as India bat first vs Afghanistan in Mullanpur Test
Synopsis
India's one-off Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur is less about the result and more about what comes next — nine Tests loom, and Shubman Gill's side is using this fixture to blood debutant Manav Suthar, settle the No. 3 question with Sai Sudharsan, and shake off six months of red-ball rust before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Key Takeaways
India won the toss and elected to bat against Afghanistan in the one-off four-day Test at Mullanpur on 6 June .
Manav Suthar received his maiden Test cap; Nangeyalia Kharote debuted for Afghanistan.
The fixture carries no WTC points but serves as key preparation ahead of series against Sri Lanka , New Zealand , and Australia .
Sai Sudharsan bats at No.
3 , with Shubman Gill captaining India.
India return to red-ball cricket after a six-month gap ; Afghanistan are building red-ball depth under new coach Richard Pybus .
India won the toss and elected to bat against Afghanistan in the one-off four-day Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Saturday, 6 June, with Manav Suthar handed his maiden Test cap. The fixture, though outside the World Test Championship (WTC) points table, is widely seen as a critical preparation block ahead of a demanding red-ball season for India.
India's Selection Focus
The match signals a deliberate transitional phase in Indian cricket, with several senior regulars absent from the squad. Under head coach Gautam Gambhir, the management has prioritised extended opportunities for younger players. Notable selection calls include Sai Sudharsan at No. 3 ahead of Devdutt Padikkal, alongside the debut of left-arm spinner Manav Suthar. India captain Shubman Gill, who grew up playing in the region, described the occasion as a 'great privilege.'
Gill said at the toss: 'We are gonna bat first. Very hot and humid. It's going to get slower and lower. Very special, I grew up playing here. It's a great privilege to captain here. The preparation has been good... Nine Test matches after this, we've got quite a few home Test matches. It's about getting the combination right. We've got Manav Suthar making his debut.'
Why This Match Matters for India
India's players return to red-ball cricket after a six-month gap, making the Afghanistan fixture an important reset. The upcoming Test calendar is among the most demanding in recent memory, featuring series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and the high-stakes Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia. The Mullanpur match offers a chance to sharpen technique, rebuild patience, and fine-tune combinations before those contests begin. Notably, this is one of the few Tests India have played outside the WTC cycle in recent years, underlining its preparatory intent rather than points accumulation.
Afghanistan's Milestone Moment
For Afghanistan, the Test carries its own significance. Under new head coach Richard Pybus, the side is pushing to deepen its red-ball credentials beyond the white-ball reputation it has built. Having played relatively few Tests since earning Full Member status from the International Cricket Council (ICC), Afghanistan views this fixture as a platform to develop experience and demonstrate growth. Afghanistan also fielded a debutant — Nangeyalia Kharote.
Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said: 'We wanted to bat as well, as the wicket looks good. We need to play good cricket. We are ready for the challenge... We had a good preparation camp in Kabul. (On Richard Pybus) He's good, he's also a very positive person, his mindset is positive. We have three seamers and two spinning combinations.'
Playing XIs
India: KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Afsar Zazai (wk), Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem.
All eyes will now be on how India's younger brigade performs over four days — and whether Suthar's debut signals a new spin-bowling option for the demanding season ahead.
Point of View
But its personnel choices tell a more interesting story. Handing Sai Sudharsan the No. 3 slot over Devdutt Padikkal is a statement of intent — and Manav Suthar's debut suggests the management is actively auditing its spin options ahead of a home-heavy cycle. With nine Tests to follow, Gambhir's squad-building logic will be judged not here in Mullanpur, but in whether these calls hold up against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Australia. The real risk is that a low-intensity fixture against a limited Test side tells the selectors very little about readiness for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is India playing a Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur?
India are playing a one-off four-day Test against Afghanistan in Mullanpur as a preparatory fixture ahead of a demanding red-ball season that includes series against Sri Lanka, New Zealand, and Australia. The match does not count towards World Test Championship points.
Who is Manav Suthar and why is his debut significant?
Manav Suthar is a left-arm spinner who received his maiden Test cap for India in the Mullanpur fixture on 6 June. His selection reflects the team management's focus on identifying spin-bowling options for an upcoming home-heavy Test schedule.
Who is captaining India in the Afghanistan Test?
Shubman Gill is captaining India in the one-off Test. Gill noted his personal connection to the venue, describing it as a 'great privilege' to lead the side at a ground where he grew up playing.
What is Afghanistan's significance in this Test?
For Afghanistan, the match is a meaningful step in building red-ball experience. Under new head coach Richard Pybus, the team is working to develop a stronger Test culture having played relatively few matches since gaining Full Member status from the ICC.
What does India's playing XI look like for the Afghanistan Test?
India's XI features KL Rahul, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna.
