India Defeats Afghanistan by Innings and 300 Runs - Biggest Innings Victory in Indian Test History; Manav Suthar Named Player of the Match | Current Affairs

India registered their biggest ever innings victory in Test cricket history on June 8, 2026, defeating Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh. India sealed a win by an innings and 300 runs, their biggest in Test cricket. India routed Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test match to secure their biggest innings win in Test history.

India 564 for 8 declared beat Afghanistan 152 and 112 by an innings and 300 runs. Debutant Manav Suthar resumed on a three-for on Day 3 and bowled with turn and guile on a pitch that had flattened out for everyone else. He ended with figures of 6 for 33 - bundling out Afghanistan for 152. India enforced the follow-on. In the second innings, Washington Sundar took 4 for 36 and Kuldeep Yadav took 3 for 30 as Afghanistan were bowled out for just 112. Manav Suthar was named Player of the Match for his figures of 28 runs scored, 6/33 in the first innings, and 1/29 in the second innings.

This match is not a part of the World Test Championship (WTC) cycle as it does not fulfil certain conditions required for a Test to be counted as part of the competition. India captain Shubman Gill said after the match: "Ticked all the boxes, very happy with that. It was very hot. On wickets like these, you need to set up the batsmen. Keep testing them in different areas."

Background: India's previous biggest innings wins in Test cricket were innings and 272 runs against West Indies in Rajkot (2018) and innings and 262 runs against Afghanistan in Bengaluru (2018 - the first-ever India-Afghanistan Test). The New Chandigarh Test was only the second Test ever between India and Afghanistan. India's first innings was built on centuries from Shubman Gill (126) and KL Rahul (100), with Sai Sudharsan and Rishabh Pant both making 81. Afghanistan's Mohammad Saleem Safi was the best bowler with 6/140 in India's first innings - a bright performance despite the lopsided result.

Why in News: India's biggest innings win in Test history is a landmark sporting achievement exam-relevant for SSC CGL, Banking, Railway, and UPSC exams. Key facts include the margin (innings and 300 runs), venue (New Chandigarh), Player of the Match (Manav Suthar), Washington Sundar (4/36) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/30) in the second innings, and the record context (biggest ever innings win for India). The test match aggregate of 828 runs is also the highest aggregate in any India-Afghanistan Test.

Key Points to Remember:

India beat Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs on June 8, 2026
Venue: Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh (Mullanpur), Punjab
India's 1st innings: 564/8 declared; Afghanistan 1st innings: 152; Afghanistan 2nd innings: 112
Result: India's biggest ever innings victory in Test history
Player of the Match: Manav Suthar (6/33 + 1/29 + 28 runs)
Afghanistan's 2nd innings bowling: Washington Sundar 4/36, Kuldeep Yadav 3/30
India's 1st innings centurions: Shubman Gill (126) + KL Rahul (100)
Afghanistan best bowler: Mohammad Saleem Safi (6/140 in India's 1st innings)
Match total aggregate: 828 runs (highest in any India-Afghanistan Test)
India captain: Shubman Gill; Head Coach: Gautam Gambhir
Debutant: Manav Suthar (Rajasthan, 23 years, left-arm spinner)
This was only India-Afghanistan's 2nd ever Test match
Match is NOT part of World Test Championship (WTC) cycle
Previous India record innings wins: Innings & 272 vs WI Rajkot 2018; Innings & 262 vs AFG Bengaluru 2018
Afghanistan's biggest innings defeat also in this match (Innings & 300)
Test match completed in 3 days (June 6-8, 2026)
Next fixture: India vs Afghanistan 1st ODI, June 13, Dharamsala

Related Static GK:

Test cricket format: 5-day match; governed by ICC; first Test 1877 (England vs Australia, Melbourne)
India Test captain (2026): Shubman Gill; India head coach: Gautam Gambhir
World Test Championship (WTC): Organised by ICC; final held every 2 years; India won WTC 2023
WTC conditions for a Test to count: Both teams must be in the ICC Test rankings; Afghanistan not fully integrated in WTC cycle
Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium: New Chandigarh, Punjab; India's newest international stadium
ICC: International Cricket Council; HQ: Dubai, UAE; Chair (2026): Jay Shah (India)
Manav Suthar: Left-arm spinner from Rajasthan; plays for Gujarat Titans in IPL
Washington Sundar: Off-spin bowling all-rounder from Tamil Nadu; plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL
Kuldeep Yadav: Left-arm wrist spinner (chinaman) from Uttar Pradesh; plays for Delhi Capitals in IPL
India's biggest Test win ever (by runs): 558 runs vs Pakistan, Lahore (1978)
Afghanistan Test status: Granted by ICC in 2017