Indian debutant Manav Suthar refused to let immediate success get to his head, remaining remarkably grounded after leading India to a dominant victory over Afghanistan. Despite a spectacular five-star performance that dismantled the opposition batting lineup, the 23-year-old spinner emphasized that red-ball cricket demands immense respect and hard work.
The historic match was a massive test for India’s bench strength, marking the first time in 15 years they played a home Test without veterans Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja. Speaking at the post-match presentation after winning the Player of the Match award, Suthar quickly dismissed any notion that international cricket is simple, highlighting the steep learning curve of the format.
IND vs AFG Live Score: One-off Test, Day 3 Highlights
“No sir, it’s not really like that. It was a very unreal feeling. It has been my dream from the very beginning to play for India and to play Test cricket. So it was an incredible moment for me and honestly felt quite unreal.”
“The biggest lesson is that consistency is everything. You have to keep bowling in the same area over and over again. I think that’s the most important thing in Test cricket. It’s a format that demands a lot of patience.”
Hailing from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, Suthar’s mature approach reflected his extensive grind in domestic cricket as Afghanistan collapsed twice on Day 3. After being bowled out for 152 and forced to follow on, Hashmatullah Shahidi’s side folded for just 112 in their second essay, handing India a comprehensive victory inside three days.
HOW WAS MANAV SUTHAR’S INDIA TEST DEBUT?
Suthar registered one of the most memorable bowling performances by an Indian debutant, picking up 6 for 45 in the first innings and finishing with seven wickets in the match. He showed great tactical awareness on a surface that lacked extravagant help, choosing to read the conditions while batting before he even bowled a ball.
“Even when I went out to bat, I felt quite comfortable. As I settled in and faced a few deliveries, I realized there was a bit of assistance for the spinners on the wicket. Then, when I came on to bowl and delivered my first over, I got the same feeling.”
Rather than hunting for wickets with standard variations right away, Suthar showed immense restraint by sticking to his core strengths to break down the Afghan resistance.
“Initially my focus was on understanding how the wicket was playing. That’s why I wanted to rely on my stock delivery as much as possible. Once I understood that the wicket was a little slow and required some variation in pace, I started making those adjustments.”
His discipline earned him the captain’s trust and the second new ball, an honor the youngster described as a “matter of great pride.”
Outside of a passionate, unsuccessful plea for a denied review because he thought it “looked absolutely plumb,” Suthar remained a calm, clinical presence on the field, capping off his dream debut with the Player of the Match trophy.
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