Devdutt Padikkal struck a fluent century as India faced a tough second day against Sri Lanka Cricket XI in their three-day warm-up match at the Nondescripts Cricket Club Ground on Saturday. Padikkal scored 103 off 121 ballsbefore retiring out, but India lost wickets regularly after his departure and reached 256/8, still 107 runs behind the hosts' first-innings total of 363/8 declared.

Sri Lanka Cricket XI had dominated the opening day, declaring their innings at 363/8. They opted not to bat on the second day, giving the Indian batters valuable time in the middle ahead of the Test series.

Jaiswal Falls Early

India's innings began badly when Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed for a duck in the first over. The left-hander chased a delivery outside the off stump and was caught at backward point off Vishwa Fernando.

KL Rahul then joined Padikkal in the middle, and the Karnataka duo put together a 96-run partnership to steady India's innings.

Rahul looked comfortable during his 40-run stay but was eventually bowled by Keshara Nuwantha while attempting an aggressive shot.

Padikkal Makes His Case

With an opportunity to spend significant time at the crease, Padikkal made the most of it. He mixed caution with attacking strokes and handled both pace and spin confidently.

The left-hander brought up his century from 121 deliveries before retiring out on 103. His innings is likely to strengthen his case for a place in India's Test middle order, particularly with uncertainty surrounding the No. 3 position.

Padikkal's return to the crease later in the innings was also notable. After several Indian wickets fell, he came back to continue his innings, a move possible because of the nature of the practice match.

Pant, Jurel Depart Quickly

Following Padikkal's retirement, Rishabh Pant came out to bat but could manage only 2 runs before being dismissed.

Dhruv Jurel followed soon after, falling for just 1 run as India slipped further.

The quick wickets shifted momentum back towards the Sri Lanka Cricket XI bowlers after India's strong partnership between Rahul and Padikkal.

Jadeja Leads Recovery

Ravindra Jadeja then took responsibility for rebuilding the innings. He played patiently while also finding boundaries when opportunities arose.

Jadeja completed a half-century and eventually retired out on 63 from 117 balls. His partnership with Manav Suthar helped India move beyond the 200-run mark and reduced some of the pressure created by the middle-order collapse.

Jadeja's decision to retire out was another indication that India were using the practice match to give multiple batters meaningful time in the middle.

Suthar Misses Fifty

Manav Suthar also produced a useful performance with the bat. The all-rounder showed patience against the Sri Lankan attack and reached 41 from 90 balls.

He narrowly missed out on a deserved half-century after being trapped lbw by Asanka Manoj.

Suthar's dismissal left India eight wickets down at 256, with Mohammed Siraj at the crease.

Kuldeep Also Retires Out

After Jadeja retired out, Kuldeep Yadav joined Suthar but did not stay for long. The spinner scored just 1 run from 15 balls before retiring out.

Mohammed Siraj subsequently walked in and was unbeaten on 1 when Suthar departed.

India's score stood at 256/8 after 72.1 overs, leaving them 107 runs short of Sri Lanka Cricket XI's declared total.

Important Test Preparation

The warm-up game is an important opportunity for India's players to adjust to Sri Lankan conditions before the upcoming Test series.

Padikkal's century will be one of the major positives for the Indian team, while the performances of Jadeja and Suthar also provided useful batting practice.

India will now look to close the gap on the Sri Lanka Cricket XI total while giving their remaining batters more time at the crease before the Test series begins.

Kuldeep Yadav's double strike on final day seals record-breaking victory as debutant Manav Suthar shines with seven wickets

India registered their biggest-ever Test win on Saturday, thrashing Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs inside three days at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium. Kuldeep Yadav triggered the final collapse with two wickets in two balls as the visitors folded for 112 in their second innings.

The victory margin surpasses India's previous best—an innings and 262 runs against Afghanistan themselves in 2019. For Afghanistan, this was only their fourth Test match since gaining Full Member status, and the gulf in experience showed.

Spinners run through fragile line-up

Asked to follow on after conceding a 412-run first-innings lead, Afghanistan never looked like saving the contest. Fourteen wickets tumbled on Day 3 alone, with the pitch offering increasing turn and variable bounce.

Washington Sundar finished with four second-innings wickets while Kuldeep picked up three. Debutant Manav Suthar and Mohammed Siraj chipped in with one each. The Afghan batters, barring Sediqullah Atal's 42 and Rahmanullah Gurbaz's 24, offered little resistance. Seven batters failed to reach double figures.

The Indian attack needed just 35.5 overs to wrap things up in the second dig.

Suthar's dream debut

The Rajasthan left-arm spinner, called up after impressive domestic performances, ended with match figures of 7 for 62. After taking three wickets on Day 2, Suthar added four more on Saturday morning to clean up the first innings at 152.

"He bowled stump to stump and was really disciplined," Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi admitted after the game. "The scoreboard pressure was there, and the pitch behaviour kept changing session by session."

Suthar's parents had travelled from Sri Ganganagar to watch him but returned home before his heroics—apparently due to superstition, according to team sources.

Batting foundation laid early

India's victory was set up by their first-innings total of 564 for 8 declared. Shubman Gill and KL Rahul struck centuries while Rishabh Pant and Sai Sudharsan contributed 81 runs each. Washington Sundar's 52 provided late impetus after India won the toss and opted to bat first on a dry surface.

The plan was to post 350-plus no matter where you're batting," Gill said after the match. "For the spinners, it was about gaining experience—how to set up batters in home conditions."

 India surpass West Indies' win tally

The victory marked India's 186th Test win in 599 matches, moving them ahead of the West Indies' tally of 185. Only Australia (426), England (405) and South Africa (191) have won more Tests. The result also provided some relief for the home side after losing 0-2 to South Africa last year, though that series was away from home against stronger opposition.

Afghanistan's Mohammad Saleem, who picked up a six-wicket haul in India's first innings, emerged as a rare positive for the visitors alongside Rahmat Shah's fighting 60.

The focus now shifts to the ODI series starting June 13.

Afghanistan struggle at 128/6, still trail India by 436 runs in New Chandigarh

Morning proceedings on Day 3 of the one-off Test at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium followed a familiar pattern, as Prasidh Krishna removed Azmatullah Omarzai for a 10-ball duck to extend Afghanistan's misery.

The visitors resumed their first innings at 113/5, still needing 252 runs just to avoid the follow-on. That target now looks distant.

Early Breakthrough Sets Tone

Krishna needed only four deliveries into the third day's play to make an impact. Omarzai, who had looked tentative overnight, failed to open his account before edging one to the slips. The seamer's maiden over to start the morning put Afghanistan immediately on the back foot.

According to initial reports from the venue, the dressing room气氛 grew tense as the follow-on danger inched closer.

Debutant Suthar's Memorable Outing

Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar, making his Test debut for India, delivered figures that his family back in Sri Ganganagar would have regretted missing. His parents reportedly travelled back home before witnessing his three-wicket haul on Day 2 due to superstition.

Suthar removed Abdul Malik on the fourth ball of his very first over, then sent back Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Afsar Zazai to finish with 3 for 21. The young spinner has looked increasingly comfortable on a surface offering gradual turn.

Rahmat Shah Breaks New Ground

Amid the collapse, Rahmat Shah quietly authored a piece of history. The experienced batter reached his half-century in 100 deliveries, becoming the first Afghanistan batsman to score a Test fifty against India.

Sources within the Afghan camp indicated that Shah's knock has brought some stability after top-order failures. He remains unbeaten on 53 off 112 balls at the lunch interval, having watched partners fall around him.

India's Batting Domination Sets Up Contest

The context of Afghanistan's struggles traces back to India's massive first innings declaration at 564/8. Captain Shubman Gill led with 126, while KL Rahul converted his start into a hundred. Rishabh Pant and Sai Sudharsan contributed identical 81-run knocks.

This represents India's highest Test total against Afghanistan. Teenage pacer Mohammad Saleem Safi claimed 6 wickets on debut, a silver lining for the visitors.

For Afghanistan to avoid an innings defeat, Shah must find support from the lower order. The pitch remains true, but the pressure of history is telling.

What Follows Next

The next session could decide the match. Afghanistan trail by 436 runs with four wickets standing. Another wicket before lunch would likely trigger thoughts of the follow-on.

Local authorities confirmed arrangements remain in place for a full five days, though few expect this contest to stretch that far.