New Delhi, June 9: Left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Manav Suthar had an unforgettable debut in Test cricket against Afghanistan. He made a significant impact with both bat and ball, earning the ‘Player of the Match’ title in his first game, contributing to India’s victory. Suthar expressed that his debut wicket will always be his favorite.
Reflecting on his debut, Suthar shared on GeoStar, “Gautam Sir and the captain informed me that I would be making my debut. It was a moment of immense pride because, since I started playing, it has been a dream for me, my father, and everyone else to represent India in Test cricket. From the day I began playing and as I progressed in the ranks, red-ball cricket became everything to me. It is the pinnacle of the sport. Therefore, whether I was playing Under-19 cricket or in the Ranji Trophy, my goal was always to play Test cricket for India. Everyone supported and motivated me, making this moment truly special. Kuldeep Bhai’s speech while handing me the cap was very inspiring.”
The young player added, “When my name was announced in the team, I was practicing with the red ball during the IPL, thinking about how I would perform if given the chance. After arriving here, I had three or four long practice sessions. In bowling, it doesn’t really matter how many hours you put in. If you love bowling, you can bowl 20-25 overs without even realizing it. The key is to keep bowling as much as possible.”
Discussing his bowling strategy on the pitch in New Chandigarh, Suthar remarked, “My debut wicket will always be my favorite. Some balls were turning while I bowled. When I batted, sometimes the balls would stop. So, I felt that spinners could get some assistance on that track. As soon as I bowled my first over, the ball started turning, so I tried to bowl as many deliveries as possible with my stock ball on that wicket.”
He emphasized, “My focus was on consistently landing the ball in the right area. From the beginning, I have concentrated on spot bowling. Any consistency I have is due to that. My favorite wicket is obviously my first one, my debut wicket. It will always remain my favorite.”
In the match, India won the toss and batted first, scoring 564 runs for the loss of 8 wickets. Suthar contributed 28 runs off 41 balls. Afghanistan was bowled out for 152 in their first innings and 112 in their second. Suthar took 6 wickets in the first innings and 1 in the second, with his debut wicket being Abdul Malik. With a total of 7 wickets and 28 runs, the 23-year-old was named Player of the Match as India won by an innings and 300 runs.
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