Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar believes debutant spinner Manav Suthar has shown enough promise to emerge as a serious contender for a regular place in India’s Test side after an impressive all-round display against Afghanistan.
The young left-arm spinner played a pivotal role in putting India firmly in control of the one-off Test, returning figures of 3 for 21 after contributing a valuable 28 runs lower down the order.
His disciplined bowling helped reduce Afghanistan to 113 for five in reply to India’s imposing first-innings total of 564 for eight declared at the close of play on Day 2.
Gavaskar was particularly impressed by Suthar’s composure and effectiveness in both departments, saying the youngster displayed qualities that could serve him well at the highest level.
“What stood out was not just his bowling, but also the confidence he showed with the bat, particularly in the way he used his feet and looked comfortable at the crease,” Gavaskar told JioHotstar.
IND vs AFG Highlights: One-off Test Day 2
“With the ball, he was extremely accurate and consistently put the batters under pressure. There was some assistance available from the surface, which he utilised well, but the real test for any spinner comes on flatter pitches where greater variety and adaptability are required.”
While acknowledging that tougher challenges lie ahead, Gavaskar felt Suthar had made a highly encouraging start to his Test career.
“Having said that, this was a highly encouraging debut and he has shown the attributes to be a strong contender at the Test level going forward,” he added.
Former England spinner Graeme Swann also praised Suthar’s maturity and tactical awareness, noting how quickly the debutant settled into the contest.
“Manav Suthar’s performance was remarkable because from the very first ball of his Test career, he looked completely in control,” Swann said.
“For any debutant spinner, nerves are inevitable, but he immediately found the right areas, generated excellent revolutions on the ball, and extracted both dip and turn.”
Swann highlighted Suthar’s ability to adapt his approach during the spell as one of the standout aspects of his performance.
“What impressed me most was his ability to adapt as his spell progressed. Initially, he was attacking around the off-stump line, but he quickly recognised the amount of turn available and adjusted his line straighter, forcing the batters to play more often.
“His control of length throughout the spell was outstanding, and that tactical adjustment played a key role in creating wicket-taking opportunities. Beyond the wickets, it was the awareness, composure, and consistency he displayed that stood out.”
Gavaskar also reserved praise for fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who claimed two wickets by adjusting his lengths to suit the conditions.
“Prasidh Krishna showed excellent awareness and adaptability in the way he approached his spell,” Gavaskar said.
“As a fast bowler, the natural instinct is often to operate on a shorter length and use bounce to trouble batters, but he recognised the conditions and adjusted accordingly.
“By pitching the ball much fuller, he was able to generate movement back into the left-handers and create genuine wicket-taking opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Gavaskar lauded Afghanistan batter Rahmat Shah for displaying the patience and resilience needed in Test cricket. Shah remained unbeaten on 43 and was instrumental in helping Afghanistan avoid a complete collapse.
“Rahmat Shah’s innings was highly impressive because it reflected the mindset and discipline required to succeed in Test cricket,” Gavaskar said.
“When your team has spent a long period in the field after conceding a big total, the objective as a batter is to respond by occupying the crease and making the opposition work just as hard.
“He showed exactly that approach, displaying patience, resilience, and a willingness to spend time at the crease.”
With India firmly on top and Suthar making an immediate impact on debut, the young spinner has given selectors plenty to think about as the race for places in India’s Test squad continues.
– Ends
Source link
[ad_3]
