Mohammed Siraj played an unexpected but influential role as India tightened its grip on Afghanistan on Day 3 of the one-off Test in Mullanpur on Monday, June 8, 2026. Although the fast bowler did not produce the key wicket himself in that moment, his on-field exchange with Rahmat Shah appeared to spark a turning point in the match.
The incident came during the 53rd over of Afghanistan’s first innings, when Rahmat was batting with Sharafuddin Ashraf, who was visibly struggling because of a leg injury. Ashraf was unable to move freely and was largely limited to blocking deliveries aimed at the stumps. Rahmat also shifted into a defensive approach, choosing to stay at the crease rather than force the pace against India’s attack.
Siraj grew visibly frustrated with the tactic. After fielding a defensive shot from Rahmat on the third ball of the 52nd over, he threw the ball back toward the stumps despite the batter still being in his crease. On the next delivery, Siraj walked up to Rahmat and questioned his intent, urging him to be more proactive instead of simply surviving.
The confrontation seemed to change the mood of the innings. Two overs later, Afghanistan finally lost the breakthrough India had been waiting for, when Ashraf attempted a more aggressive shot and edged the ball through to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, who completed a clean catch behind the stumps.
Once Ashraf departed for 142, Afghanistan’s resistance collapsed quickly. The visitors lost three more wickets in the next four overs and were bowled out for 152. Rahmat Shah, who was Afghanistan’s only half-centurion in the innings, was eventually dismissed by debutant spinner Manav Suthar, who claimed a five-wicket haul in his first Test match.
Siraj’s intervention, whether deliberate or simply the result of competitive frustration, appeared to inject urgency into a previously stagnant passage of play. His exchange with Rahmat came at a time when Afghanistan were trying to slow the game down, but it coincided with a sudden shift in momentum that India used to devastating effect.
India had already taken command of the match after building a massive 412-run lead on the first innings. Following Afghanistan’s collapse, India enforced the follow-on and continued to press their advantage. By Tea on Day 3, Afghanistan had been reduced to 98 for five in their second innings, with opener Sediqullah Atal the last batter to fall before the break.
The match remained firmly in India’s control as Afghanistan struggled to recover from the rapid first-innings collapse triggered during the tense exchange involving Siraj.
