Manav Suthar delivered a composed bowling performance on Monday, August 17, at Galle as India moved into a commanding position in the first Test against Sri Lanka. The left-arm spinner took 4 wickets for 76 runs across 21.4 overs, playing a key role in restricting the hosts. Suthar struck with his opening delivery by dismissing Dinesh Chandimal, setting the tone for his spell. India's bowling attack combined to bowl Sri Lanka out for 284, allowing the visitors to establish a 178-run first-innings lead.
Suthar's performance marked only his second Test appearance for India. On debut against Afghanistan in June, the spinner announced himself with a seven-wicket haul across two innings while also scoring 28 runs with the bat, earning Player of the Match honours in that match. His return to the Test arena at Galle demonstrated consistency and control against a different opposition in unfamiliar conditions.
"I will say yes because he is a mighty guy. When he releases the ball, it drifts, bounces, and turns. He dismisses you while defending. When you can make the opposing batter lick dust while defending, and that too repeatedly, that tells you this guy has the might," Chopra said while speaking on his YouTube channel, when asked whether Suthar had already cemented his place in India's plans for Asian conditions.
"Along with that, he also bats, which means you can keep him in mind even in overseas conditions. I am seeing him as a successor to Ravindra Jadeja because Jaddu will go at some stage, and you will need somebody like him. If I look at him purely as a bowler, I think he is Jadeja's upgraded version," he added.
Chopra's assessment of Suthar as Jadeja's successor
Jadeja himself reached a significant milestone during the match when his dismissal of Keshara Nuwantha took him to 350 Test wickets. The achievement made Jadeja only the fifth Indian to reach that mark, joining an elite group that includes Anil Kumble, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kapil Dev and Harbhajan Singh. Jadeja's continued excellence at Test level underscores the standard that Suthar must match as he develops his career in the format.
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Suthar's emergence as a Test bowler comes at a time when India continues to develop its spin-bowling resources across all conditions. His early performances suggest that he has cemented his place in India's plans for matches in Asian conditions, where left-arm spinners have historically played a crucial role. The combination of Suthar's recent performances and Chopra's endorsement indicates that selectors view him as a prospect capable of contributing significantly to India's Test cricket future.