India created history with a commanding innings-and-300-run victory over Afghanistan in the one-off Test in Mullanpur, registering the largest winning margin by innings in the country’s Test cricket history. However, despite the record-breaking performance, the result did not earn India any points in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27 cycle.
The dominant win showcased India’s strength in red-ball cricket, with both experienced and emerging bowlers playing key roles in dismantling Afghanistan across two innings.
Historic Win Highlights India’s Test Strength
After taking complete control of the match in the first innings, India forced Afghanistan to follow on with a massive lead. The visitors struggled to cope with the spin-friendly conditions and India’s disciplined bowling attack, eventually being bowled out for just 112 in their second innings.
The victory surpassed India’s previous record innings wins and marked another memorable achievement for the national team in Test cricket.
No WTC Benefit Despite Massive Victory
Many cricket fans were surprised to learn that India’s emphatic win had no impact on the World Test Championship standings.
The reason is simple: the match was not part of the official WTC 2025-27 schedule. While Afghanistan hold Test status, they are not among the nations participating in the current World Test Championship cycle. Therefore, matches involving Afghanistan do not carry WTC points.
As a result, India’s tally and position in the championship table remain unchanged despite the comprehensive victory.
Spinners Lead India’s Charge
India’s bowlers dominated throughout the match, with spin proving to be Afghanistan’s biggest challenge.
Washington Sundar emerged as one of the standout performers in the second innings, claiming four wickets, while Kuldeep Yadav added three more to dismantle the Afghan batting order.
Earlier in the match, debutant Manav Suthar impressed with a six-wicket haul, becoming one of the few Indian bowlers to take five wickets on Test debut. His performance helped India build early momentum and put Afghanistan under pressure from the start.
Shubman Gill’s Side Gains Confidence
Although the result did not affect the WTC standings, it provided a timely boost for India’s Test squad. The team entered the match looking to regain momentum after inconsistent performances in recent red-ball assignments.
The one-sided victory highlighted India’s depth in both batting and bowling, while also giving younger players an opportunity to make an impact on the international stage.
India’s Largest Test Victories by Innings Margin
The Mullanpur triumph now sits at the top of India’s list of biggest innings victories in Test cricket:
- Afghanistan – Innings and 300 runs (Mullanpur, 2026)
- West Indies – Innings and 272 runs (Rajkot, 2018)
- Afghanistan – Innings and 262 runs (Bengaluru, 2018)
- Bangladesh – Innings and 239 runs (Mirpur, 2007)
- Sri Lanka – Innings and 239 runs (Nagpur, 2017)
Focus Shifts to Upcoming WTC Fixtures
With the Afghanistan Test now complete, India’s attention will turn to upcoming series that will directly influence their World Test Championship campaign. While the record-breaking victory will be remembered for years to come, the team’s primary goal remains climbing the WTC standings and strengthening its bid for a place in the next championship final.
For now, India can celebrate a historic achievement that underlined their dominance, even if it did not bring any reward in the race for WTC points.
