Spinner Manav Suthar justified India’s faith in him by picking up his maiden Test wicket in his very first over on debut against Afghanistan in Mullanpur on Sunday, June 7.
Introduced into the attack in the sixth over of the innings, Suthar struck immediately as opener Abdul Malik top-edged a sweep attempt to hand India their first wicket of the day.
The left-arm spinner, who earned his maiden call-up after a string of outstanding performances in domestic cricket and for India A, extracted generous turn from the Mullanpur pitch and troubled the Afghanistan batters with the new ball.
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Malik, looking to put pressure on the spinner early, attempted to sweep Suthar for a boundary but only managed a top edge.
Suthar struck again in the 20th over of the innings, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz for 12 off 40 balls. The spinner found Gurbaz’s outside edge, with Sai Sudharsan completing a sharp catch at second slip.
The two wickets underlined why India invested in the Rajasthan spinner, who has built a formidable first-class record over the last few seasons. In just 29 first-class matches, Suthar has already picked up 129 wickets.
LONG WAIT FOR AN INDIA CALL-UP
Suthar’s rise to the national team has been far from straightforward. For much of the last decade, India’s spin-bowling spots were locked down by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, both of whom combined elite bowling with substantial batting contributions.
Even during the transition period that followed, India often preferred Washington Sundar because of his all-round abilities.
As a result, Suthar was forced to bide his time despite consistently performing in domestic cricket.
Speaking to JioStar before his debut, Suthar reflected on his journey from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan to the Indian team.
“Cricket has always been a big part of my family. My father loves the game, and everyone at home watches matches regularly. As a young boy, I used to sit with them and watch. That is where my love for cricket first started,” Suthar said.
“I began playing in the streets with my friends. Those street games taught me the basics, how to hold the bat and how to bowl. When I was 10 or 11, I joined a proper cricket academy. My coaches taught me the right techniques and helped me improve my game.”
‘SACRIFICES HAVE FINALLY PAID OFF’
The spinner said he always believed that an India call-up would eventually come if he continued performing consistently.
“I had a great domestic season. I performed well for India A too. My name was being discussed, and I knew the call could come anytime. It was a waiting game, but I stayed patient,” Suthar said.
“I made my IPL debut in 2024 with Gujarat Titans. I played only one game that season. I didn’t get a chance to play in 2025, but I played four games in 2026, and it felt good to be back on the field.”
“Now, all the hard work in domestic cricket and for India A has paid off. I am in the playing XI for the Afghanistan Test, making my international debut. It is a dream come true. All the sacrifices have finally paid off. I feel proud, grateful, and ready to give my best for the country.”
Suthar’s performance on debut showcased exactly why India backed him. The left-arm spinner consistently drifted the ball into the right-handers before turning it sharply away, despite operating on a relatively slow surface.
His early breakthroughs helped India reduce Afghanistan to 62/3 after the hosts had piled up a mammoth 564 in their first innings.
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