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STUMP VISION AUGUST 28, 2026 | The Indian Eye 45

How Manav Suthar emerged as

India’s next big spin prospect

The young left-arm spinner’s sensational 10-wicket haul in Galle has put him firmly in the spotlight

OUR BUREAU required from a Test spinner.
Suthar’s success also reflects the
GALLE (Sri Lanka)
importance of preparation away from
ndia’s long search for the next the spotlight.
generation of Test match spinners After his debut against Afghani-
Imay have produced an answer in stan, he recognised that he needed to
the unlikeliest of places: a fifth-day adapt quickly to the Kookaburra ball.
pitch in Galle, where 24-year-old Ma- He subsequently trained extensively
nav Suthar dismantled Sri Lanka’s with it in the nets, specifically seeking
resistance and announced himself on to become comfortable with its char-
the international stage. acteristics before the Sri Lanka Test.
Suthar claimed 10 wickets in In- His own explanation was reveal-
dia’s 165-run victory over Sri Lanka ing: he takes Test cricket seriously
in the opening Test, following four and regards daily improvement as his
wickets in the first innings with a ca- primary objective. That attitude may
reer-best 6/55 in the second. It was ultimately prove as important as his
his maiden 10-wicket haul in only his natural ability.
second Test and came after an equally Suthar’s emergence is therefore
impressive debut against Afghanistan not simply an individual story. It is
in June, when he took seven wickets also evidence of a development path-
and was named Player of the Match. way beginning to produce players
The numbers are impressive. But ready for the demands of internation-
it is the manner in which Suthar has al cricket.
gone about his bowling that has at- A long road ahead
tracted attention. It would be premature to declare
India captain Shubman Gill was
quick to recognise the significance of Suthar the successor to India’s great
spin bowlers after just two Tests. In-
the performance, describing Suthar as ternational cricket has a way of test-
a “very promising” player who could ing promising players once opponents
play for India for a long time. understand their strengths.
For a country that has produced
generations of outstanding spinners, But the early signs are compelling.
He has already demonstrated
such praise carries weight. More im- that he can take wickets on different
portantly, Suthar’s bowling suggests surfaces, adapt to conditions, vary his
that he possesses qualities that can pace without obvious changes in ac-
make him effective beyond favour- Suthar’s success also reflects the importance of preparation away from the spotlight (File photo) tion and maintain discipline over long
able turning tracks. spells. Most importantly, he appears
the surface might provide. spectacular individual deliveries.
The art of subtle variation Suthar appears to understand Sri Lanka were chasing 372 and to possess the temperament required
Perhaps the most revealing as- for Test cricket.
sessment came from vice-captain KL that equation instinctively. had reached a position where India India’s spin cupboard has been
At Galle, he exploited the breeze
needed to maintain pressure. Suthar,
Rahul, who highlighted Suthar’s abil- particularly well, generating drift be- Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav richly stocked for decades. The de-
ity to create uncertainty without dra- fore allowing the ball to straighten concentrated on bowling patiently in partures and ageing of established
matically changing his action. or come into the batter. Rahul also specific areas, trusting that mistakes stars have inevitably raised questions
According to Rahul, Suthar can about succession. Suthar may now be
bowl slower or quicker while maintain- pointed to his consistency, noting that would eventually follow. offering an encouraging answer.
Suthar could repeatedly operate from
ing essentially the same arm speed and the same area while introducing sub- The approach worked. His immediate challenge will be
action. He also uses changes in angle tle variations. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled to turn an extraordinary start into sus-
and trajectory to keep batters guessing. That combination of discipline out for 206, with Suthar taking the fi- tained excellence. If he can maintain
That ability is crucial in Test nal four wickets across two overs, in- the same hunger for improvement,
cricket. A spinner does not necessar- and variation could become one of his cluding three in the 76th over, to com- adaptability and patience that defined
defining strengths.
ily need to produce extravagant turn plete his 10-wicket match haul. his Galle performance, India could
with every delivery. Often, the greater Patience before the rewards There was little flamboyance in his have more than a promising young
weapon is uncertainty — making the Suthar’s performance was also a approach. Instead, there was control, spinner.
batter unsure about pace, trajectory, reminder that successful Test bowling repetition and a willingness to wait. It could have the beginning of an-
angle and the amount of assistance is often about patience rather than Those are precisely the qualities other long-term Test career.

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