In his debut,Manav Suthar made waves for India against Afghanistan at PCA Stadium. On Sunday, left-arm spinner left a mark,snatching 3 wickets for just 21 runs in 15.5 overs,cutting Afghanistan to 113 for 5 after India declared at 564 for 8.
Washington Sundar,Indian all-rounder, expressed faith in Suthar's skills,saying his performance didn't surprise those who knew him. “We all know what he could actually bring to table,especially in this format,” Sundar said. He noted Suthar's promise was clear before,adding,“I guess it was just about time and it was going to come.”
Suthar's Test career started with a bang, striking on his fourth delivery,sending Abdul Malik back. Then he took Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Afsar Zazai, putting Afghanistan under pressure. Sundar praised Suthar,saying,“The way he turned up and bowled on his day one was amazing.” He believes Suthar will keep shining, declaring,“Eventually,he will be a match winner for us,especially in this format.”
Apart from Suthar's feats, Sundar also impressed with the bat,ending unbeaten on 52 runs. His innings, along with centuries from captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul, bolstered India's lead. Sundar said his priority is the team's needs over a set batting order. “For me,whatever the team demands... that's more important to me,” he stated.
Switching from fast-paced IPL to Test cricket takes some adjustment,Sundar admitted, highlighting mental prep required for this change. Having just played with Gujarat Titans to IPL final, he stressed execution and practice. “Once that mental shift happened,it's all about just execution and playing some quantity of balls,” he explained. Sundar was pleased with how preparations unfolded before the Test.
As match goes on,all eyes stay on Suthar,whose early show has raised expectations for his Test future. With Sundar's backing and team's strong start,India looks strong…but can they keep momentum?
