New Delhi, May 19: The Indian cricket team has announced its squad for a Test and three One Day Internationals against Afghanistan. Among the new faces is Manav Suthar, who has been selected for the Test team. The left-arm spinner and batsman has an impressive first-class record and is seen as a promising talent for the future of Indian cricket.
At just 23 years old, Manav hails from Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, where he plays domestic cricket. His journey from a town located just five kilometers from the Pakistan border to the Indian national team has not been easy. His father, Jagdish Suthar, a physical education teacher and former cricketer, played a crucial role in shaping his career. Although Jagdish never fulfilled his dream of playing for India, he dedicated himself to supporting his son’s aspirations. Manav was sent to a cricket academy at the age of 11, where his bowling talent was first recognized. He is not just a bowler; he has also proven to be a valuable lower-order batsman in domestic cricket.
Before the 2023 ODI World Cup, Manav impressed former Indian captains Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during a camp in Bengaluru. He troubled these seasoned batsmen with his bowling, leading senior players to believe that if he could generate such drift with a white ball, he would be even more dangerous with a red ball. This marked the beginning of significant opportunities for him on a larger stage.
Manav made his first-class debut for Rajasthan in 2022 and is part of the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024. While the star-studded team has shown faith in him, opportunities have been limited. He played one match in IPL 2024 and spent the entire IPL 2025 season on the bench. In IPL 2026, he participated in four matches, taking two wickets in three of them.
Throughout his cricketing journey, Manav has showcased his abilities at every level. His performance for India A against Australia A, where he took five wickets, caught the selectors’ attention and paved the way for his inclusion in the Indian Test team.
Securing a spot in the Indian Test team is a significant achievement. The team has placed its trust in young talents like Manav, alongside established players like Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. It remains to be seen whether he can secure a place in the playing eleven with the presence of Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar. However, Manav’s first-class record indicates that he will make his mark in Test cricket sooner or later.
In his first-class career, Manav has played 29 matches, taking 129 wickets and scoring 945 runs, including one century and six half-centuries.
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Arpit Soni has had a passion for journalism since the beginning. Now he has turned this hobby into his profession. Arpit, who is a resident of Udaipur, enjoys editing and writing news related to journalism. He has worked as a Senior Content Producer in several important roles at Bhaskar, Patrika, Pratahkal, Punjab Kesari, and Times. Arpit completed his schooling in Udaipur and Jaipur. He has been working in the media industry for more than 10 years, and his journey is still continuing. ✍️📚
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