India registered their biggest-ever Test victory by defeating Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test match in Mullanpur.
After winning the toss, the hosts chose to bat first and declared their first innings at a massive 564/8, with Shubman Gill (126) and KL Rahul (100) slamming superb centuries.
In reply, Afghanistan’s first innings folded for just 152 runs. Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar stole the show on Test debut for India, returning with spectacular figures of 6 for 33 in 22 overs.
Forced to follow on, the visitors were bowled out for a mere 112 runs in 35.5 overs. Washington Sundar tore through the line-up with 4/36, while Kuldeep Yadav chipped in with 3/30.
After a lop-sided contest that ended inside three days, former India cricketer Madan Lal questioned the rationale behind granting Test status to Afghanistan, while also recalling their dismal show on Test debut against India in 2018.
“Why are they (Afghanistan) allowed to play Test?" Lal said in an interview with PTI. “I don’t understand the logic behind giving Afghanistan Test status. I also do not understand why affiliate nations are given Test status on the basis of their ODI and T20I record."
“See they scored just 152 and 102 in this match. In their previous encounter eight years back, they folded up in 109 and 102 runs. Is this good advertisement for Test cricket?" he added.
The 1983 World Cup-winner emphasized that the ICC should focus on utilizing Afghanistan's undisputed strength in T20Is, noting that transitioning straight to Tests requires first-class infrastructure that is practically non-existent in the country.
“I feel they should focus on ODIs as they are a very good T20I side. Playing Test is jumping the gun. First, they should learn how to play and last for 50 overs," Lal stated.
“See playing five-day Test require a lot of infrastructure and facilities. That is absolutely zero in Afghanistan. So what do they do. The players are not bad. It’s only that they are not habitual of playing for five days cricket."
However, former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim argued a team cannot improve in Test cricket without playing the format, highlighting that teams like Bangladesh struggled for over a decade before recording massive victories against Pakistan.
“See Bangladesh were also not able to play standard Test cricket in the first decade and half since their debut in 2000. But not very long back they beat Pakistan in Pakistan. So let’s show a little more patience with a war-ravaged country like Afghanistan," Karim said.
