Two Tests, two decisive performances. Manav Suthar has barely begun his international career, but the 24-year-old left-arm spinner is already displaying the most valuable quality a bowler can possess – the ability to win matches.
His latest demonstration came in Galle on Aug 14, when Suthar dismantled Sri Lanka with a 10-wicket match haul to propel India to a commanding 165-run victory.
After taking 4-76 in the first innings, the Rajasthan spinner returned 6-55 in the second to finish with 10-131. It made him only the ninth Indian left-arm spinner to claim 10 wickets in a Test and underlined why he is increasingly being viewed as an important part of India’s red-ball future.
What makes Suthar particularly exciting is that this was no isolated burst on a helpful Sri Lankan pitch.
On his Test debut against Afghanistan in Mullanpur, India, in June, he claimed 6-33 in the first innings and seven wickets in the match, earning the Player of the Match award.
His ability to strike quickly at Test level is backed by an impressive domestic foundation. Suthar has taken more than 150 first-class wickets and gained valuable experience with Rajasthan and Warwickshire.
But statistics tell only part of the story.
At 1.88m, Suthar possesses a naturally high release point. His classical side-on action and ability to impart heavy revolutions give him drift, dip and, crucially, substantial turn.
In Galle, he consistently extracted sharp movement from the surface, making it difficult for batters to decide whether to play forward or back.
Yet, turn alone does not make a Test spinner dangerous. Suthar combines it with relentless accuracy.
His philosophy is refreshingly uncomplicated: keep pitching the ball in the right area and force the batter to make the mistake.
That patience was evident on his Test debut, when he bowled 10 maidens in 22 overs while conceding only 33 runs. Unlike spinners who chase wickets by constantly experimenting, Suthar appears comfortable building pressure delivery after delivery.
He also uses the crease intelligently, changing his release position and angles to create uncertainty without dramatically altering his basic method.
Former India spinner Laxman Sivaramakrishnan has described him as a throwback to Indian spinners of the 1970s and 1980s, while Sri Lankan great Rangana Herath believes Suthar possesses the qualities to develop into one of India’s leading Test bowlers.
There is another reason India will be watching his progress closely: he can bat.
A left-hander with a first-class century and six half-centuries, Suthar has the potential to occupy the crucial No. 8 position. That gives selectors the attractive possibility of fielding a frontline wicket-taking spinner without significantly weakening the lower order.
It inevitably invites comparisons with Ravindra Jadeja, although Suthar has a long way to go before he can be placed in that league.
What he has already demonstrated, however, is temperament. He does not appear intimidated by international cricket and seems equally comfortable attacking for wickets or settling into a long, patient spell.
India has rarely lacked quality spinners. Breaking into that tradition is difficult; becoming a genuine match-winner is harder still.
Suthar’s career is only two Tests old, so sweeping conclusions would be premature. But 17 wickets and two match-shaping performances provide compelling early evidence.
In Galle, he did more than turn the ball sharply. He turned the match India’s way.
