New Chandigarh, June 7: Former England spinner Graeme Swann has commended debutant Manav Suthar for his outstanding performance. The 23-year-old left-arm Indian spinner took three wickets against Afghanistan during a Test match at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, helping India strengthen their grip on the game.
On the second day of the match, Suthar bowled 15.5 overs, conceding just 21 runs while claiming three wickets. He also bowled seven maiden overs. India declared their first innings at 564/8, and by the end of the second day, Afghanistan had lost five wickets for a mere 113 runs. The visiting team is still 451 runs behind and faces a tough challenge to avoid the follow-on.
Swann noted that the most remarkable aspect of Suthar’s performance was his calm demeanor from the very first ball and his ability to adapt intelligently to the conditions. Speaking to ‘Jio Hotstar’, Swann said, “Manav Suthar’s performance was fantastic; he looked completely in control from his very first ball. It’s natural for any new spinner to feel nervous, but he immediately bowled in the right areas, turning the ball beautifully and achieving both dip and turn.”
The former off-spinner emphasized that Suthar’s understanding and flexibility in strategy were key to his success. He remarked, “What impressed me most was his ability to adapt to the conditions during his spell. Initially, he attacked around the off-stump line, but he quickly realized how much turn he was getting and adjusted his line, forcing the batsmen into playing more shots. His control over length throughout the spell was excellent, and that strategic adjustment played a crucial role in creating wicket-taking opportunities.”
Swann believes that Suthar’s true quality cannot be measured solely by the wickets he took. He added, “Beyond taking wickets, his intelligence, composure, and consistency drew everyone’s attention. This was a remarkable display of spin bowling in his debut match.”
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