Sunil Gavaskar is mighty impressed with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar’s performance on Test debut, and the batting legend said he is a “strong contender” for a consistent place in India’s Test team in future
At the end of day two in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in Chandigarh, Suthar had figures of 3 for 21.
“… what stood out was not just his bowling, but also the confidence he showed with the bat, particularly in the way he used his feet and looked comfortable at the crease,” Gavaskar told JioHotstar.
“With the ball, he was extremely accurate and consistently put the batters under pressure. There was some assistance available from the surface, which he utilised well, but the real test for any spinner comes on flatter pitches where greater variety and adaptability are required.”
“Having said that, this was a highly encouraging debut and he has shown the attributes to be a strong contender at the Test level going forward,” Gavaskar added.
Former England spinner Graeme Swann was also impressed with the accuracy of Suthar.
“Manav Suthar’s performance was remarkable because from the very first ball of his Test career, he looked completely in control,” Swann said.
“For any debutant spinner, nerves are inevitable, but he immediately found the right areas, generated excellent revolutions on the ball, and extracted both dip and turn. “What impressed me most was his ability to adapt as his spell progressed. Initially, he was attacking around the off-stump line, but he quickly recognised the amount of turn available and adjusted his line straighter, forcing the batters to play more often.”
“His control of length throughout the spell was outstanding, and that tactical adjustment played a key role in creating wicket-taking opportunities. Beyond the wickets, it was the awareness, composure, and consistency he displayed that stood out,” Swann also said.
