'He wasn't just lucky, he was clever and accurate' - Manav Suthar gets high praise from Sunil Gavaskar for memorable spell on debut
"People say a spin bowler is successful in India because he gets help from the pitch. The conditions are favourable for him," Gavaskar said.
Manav Suthar was so good in his first-ever Test outing for the Indian team in the one-off Test against Afghanistan that it left legendary cricketer Sunil Gavaskar immensely impressed. Suthar, who became the Test Cap No. 319 for India, took seven wickets in his debut outing, including a six-wicket haul in the first innings.
Gavaskar, reflecting on Suthar's spell after the match, said that the way the debutant showed his skills and controls with respect to spin bowling is what brought him a lot of success against the Afghans. The former cricketer said that Suthar has a rare ability to pitch the ball exactly on the spot he wishes to. Rather than luck, Gavaskar flagged the accuracy and cleverness of the left-arm orthodox spinner for early success.
"People say a spin bowler is successful in India because he gets help from the pitch. The conditions are favourable for him. But I would say, here against Afghanistan, take the pitch out of the equation. Bowling comes down to skill and control. And that is exactly what this young man showed. Manav Suthar has a simple, repeatable action. That gives him great accuracy," Gavaskar was quoted as saying by JioStar after the match.
"He knows exactly where each ball is going to land. That kind of control is rare. When you have drift and can land the ball in the right spot consistently, you don't need a turning track to take wickets. Suthar outsmarted the Afghanistan batters not with sharp turn, but with flight, dip, and precision. He practiced spot bowling to master his release point. That hard work paid off. He knew where to pitch the ball to trouble each batter. That is why he picked up six wickets on debut. He wasn't just lucky, he was clever and accurate." Gavaskar concluded.
His magnificent spell on debut also helped India register their biggest Test victory, clinching a win by an innings and 300 runs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh.
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