The India versus Afghanistan one-off Test is currently underway at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh. The Men in Blue showcased pure dominance on the field as they posted a massive total of 564 in their first innings. However, debutant Manav Suthar grabbed everyone’s attention with his sensational bowling.
The left-arm spinner led the bowling attack as he returned with impressive figures of 6/33, dismantling Afghanistan’s top and middle order. Suthar, who received his Test cap No. 319 from Kuldeep Yadav, had a dream start to his career in the baggy blues.
The 23-year-old not only showcased his dominance with the bat but also contributed 28 runs off 41 balls, which featured two towering sixes.
Who is Manav Suthar?
Suthar was born in Rajasthan’s Ganganagar. He is a left-arm orthodox bowler who can also chip in crucial runs while batting. He plays for Rajasthan’s domestic cricket team, and he was acquired by the IPL franchise Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2025 for Rs 30 lakh.
Suthar got the opportunity to play for GT in only four matches in IPL 2026, and he managed to pick only 2 wickets. Meanwhile, he picked a total of 39 wickets in 6 matches during the Ranji Trophy 2022-2023 season, following which he caught the selectors’ attention. He has picked up over 120 wickets in first-class cricket.
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Before earning a maiden Test call-up against Afghanistan, Manav Suthar had already impressed some of the biggest names in Indian cricket. Among them was Rahul Dravid, who took note of the young left-arm spinner’s all-round potential.
According to Suthar’s coach, Dheeraj Sharma, Dravid was particularly impressed by his ability with both bat and ball. However, the former India head coach advised him to prioritise his bowling, believing that mastering his primary skill would give him the best chance of building a long and successful career in cricket.
