AI Simulation, One-Off Test | Kuldeep Yadav's 10-wicket match haul powers India to innings victory over Afghanistan
India secures a dominant win over Afghanistan in the one off Test. Kuldeep Yadav took a 10-wicket haul, as India won by an innings and 5 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill scored centuries, before the Indian bowlers wrapped up the game.
Pitch and Weather
The match will be played at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, which is expected to be good for batting for the first two days. It will offer good bounce and carry. As the match goes on, cracks will also develop which will bring spinners in from Day 3. Fast bowlers will be able to receive some assistance in the morning sessions. The weather forecast is expected to be sunny and dry throughout the Test, ensuring no weather related interruptions.
Toss
India wins the toss and decides to bat first, aiming to take advantage of the fresh batting surface before it deteriorates.
Lineups
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar
Afghanistan: Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Azmatullah Omarzai, Hashmatullah Shahidi (C), Abdul Malik, Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Ziaur Rahman, Qais Ahmed, Bilal Sami
Match Report
India was able to dominate with the bat for the first two days. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul were able to negotiate well with the new ball, as the duo put up 128 runs for the first wicket. Rahul was dismissed after scoring 68, but Yashasvi Jaiswal went on to smash boundaries, as he scored a fluent 154. Shubman Gill played a classy knock of 112, while Rishabh Pant played aggressively to score 89, before India declared at 568/8.
Afghanistan started well in response, with Rahmanullah Gurbaz scoring 47, but Mohammed Siraj was able to expose the middle order. Rahmat Shah fought back by scoring 76, but Kuldeep Yadav's spin proved to be decisive. Afghanistan were bowled out for 268 runs, having a decent deficit.
Following this, Afghanistan was asked for a follow on, where they showed resistance. Hashmatullah Shahidi scored 92 runs, while Azmatullah Omarzai also contributed with 64. But, the pitch had started to favour the spinners to a great extent. Kuldeep Yadav was able to use the rough end well, while Washington Sundar assisted from the other end.
The turning point arrived in the fourth evening, when Kuldeep Yadav removed Shahidi and Omarzai in the same spell. This ended Afghanistan’s hopes for a draw. Qais Ahmed showed some resistance with the lower order, but Afghanistan was bowled out for 312.
India was able to complete a convincing victory by an innings and 5 runs.
Player of the Match
Kuldeep Yadav wins the Player of the Match award for taking 10 wickets, as he dismantled Afghanistan's batting line-up in both innings.