Afghanistan's innings-and-300-run defeat to India in Mullanpur was significant not just for its margin but for what it revealed. In a contest that ended inside three days, the visitors were outplayed in every department. India piled up 564 for 8 declared, Afghanistan's batters struggled to build meaningful partnerships and the bowlers were unable to sustain pressure for long enough periods.
For many observers, the result simply reinforced the gulf that exists between Afghanistan and one of Test cricket's established powers. Yet for Richard Pybus, Afghanistan's head coach, the bigger issue lay elsewhere.
"I think we were just incredibly rusty. We haven't played a Test match for seven months. Having coached a lot of first-class cricket, it's a little bit like coming out of pre-season. You've got to get into the rhythm of playing long format cricket. We were rusty, we showed our naivety and there's plenty of work to be done. I think in the same way that the white-ball side has developed, you've only developed through fixtures."
The numbers reinforce Pybus' point. Afghanistan and Ireland became the newest entrants into Test cricket in 2018. Eight years later, both teams have played only 13 Tests each. Afghanistan have won four and lost eight, while Ireland have won three and lost ten. Neither side has played more than four Tests in a calendar year. For teams still trying to understand the demands of the format, opportunities to learn have been sporadic at best.
Afghanistan's Test match gaps since 2018
Test Match Nos.Gap in daysGap in months/year1 to 22698m 24d2 to 31695m 16d3 to 4782m 17d4 to 5&64561y 3m5&6 to 78212y 3m7 to 82287m 14d8 to 92121d9 to 101896m 5d10 to 11&121033m 12d11&12 to 132869m 13d13 to 142237m 11dAverage gap between Tests258.45 days8m 18d (approx)
Notes:Entries marked 5&6 and 11&12 refer to two-match Test series. Gap calculations are based on the scheduled conclusion date of each five-day Test match. Month equivalents have been calculated using a standard 30-day month. The abandoned Test against New Zealand in Greater Noida has been included in the calculations.
The table paints a revealing picture. Since making their Test debut in 2018, Afghanistan have waited an average of approximately 258 days between matches - the equivalent of nearly eight and a half months. On one occasion, they went more than two years between Tests. Even some of the shorter gaps were followed by extended periods without red-ball cricket at the highest level.
Viewed through that lens, the rustiness Pybus referred to becomes easier to understand. Afghanistan's previous Test had come seven months earlier. In that period, the Afghanistan players played white-ball cricket, featured in franchise cricket as well as domestic matches. The adjustment required in Mullanpur was not simply about facing a stronger opponent; it was about readjusting to a format they encounter only intermittently.
Test cricket remains unique among formats because of the skills it demands. Batters need the concentration to occupy the crease for hours, bowlers need the endurance to sustain pressure across long spells and captains must constantly adapt to situations that unfold over days rather than overs. Those skills are difficult to acquire through training alone. They are developed through repetition and exposure.
Afghanistan's white-ball rise provides a useful comparison. Over the last decade, they have transformed themselves into one of the most competitive limited-overs sides in world cricket. They have beaten established nations at ICC events, reached the semifinals of major tournaments and produced players who have become household names across global franchise leagues.
That progress did not happen in isolation. It was built through regular fixtures, repeated exposure to elite opposition and opportunities to learn from failure. Pybus believes the same principle applies to skyexchange cricket.
"The only way to develop it is through a lot of fixtures. We've got quite a lot of cricket coming up before the end of the year. That's an opportunity for us and all those things. Working on our skill sets, working on (our) game plan and then bringing that and the ability to execute under pressure."
The challenge, however, extends beyond scheduling individual series. Afghanistan's domestic first-class structure remains limited compared to those of the more established Test nations. While players gain valuable experience through domestic cricket, emerging tournaments and Afghanistan A assignments, the step up to Test cricket remains substantial. Long gaps between international matches only make that adjustment harder.
Pybus hinted at the broader questions facing Afghanistan cricket. "You can play as much full red-ball cricket at home domestically and there aren't that many first-class sides and it's not a long fixture list. There are some structural questions. I will have some feedback from the board when I go back. But also, what is our commitment to Test cricket? Every side historically, as it's evolved, needs fixtures to play."
Pybus, meanwhile, also took note of the positives that emerged from Mullanpur. "We've got a lot to work on, that's pretty obvious. There were some positive things to extract from the game in terms of our ability to execute. There have been periods where we've applied pressure. For me personally, spending time in the dressing room, chatting to the guys and understanding how they put their game together. You guys have been watching the last two and a half days. There's lots of talent and potential but it needs to be developed."
When Afghanistan's Test journey began in Bengaluru in 2018, they lost to skyexch by an innings and 262 runs. Eight years later, with only KL Rahul, Rahmat Shah and Hashmatullah Shahidi remaining from the two XIs that took the field then, the margin in Mullanpur was even heavier: an innings and 300 runs.
The personnel may have changed, but the broader challenge remains strikingly familiar. Afghanistan are still trying to learn a format they rarely get the opportunity to play. Until that changes, every heavy defeat will continue to raise the same uncomfortable question: how much progress can a Test team make when it scarcely plays Test cricket?
