Rajasthan’s spin-bowling all-rounder Manav Suthar has been handed his maiden Test cap, earning a place in India’s playing XI for the one-off match against Afghanistan in Mullanpur. The 23-year-old’s inclusion ahead of Harsh Dubey signals that the team management is preparing him for a meaningful role in the upcoming two-match Test series versus Sri Lanka.
Suthar received his first Test cap from Kuldeep Yadav. A left-arm spinner, he comes into the side with experience across formats and a steady wicket-taking record in domestic cricket. In first-class cricket, Suthar has featured in 29 matches and picked up 129 wickets, giving him the credentials of a frontline spinning option.
With this debut, Suthar becomes India’s first specialist spin bowler to make a Test debut since Axar Patel in 2021. He has also played 25 List-A games and 29 T20 matches, adding further depth to his background before stepping into the longest format at international level.
He was previously part of the Gujarat Titans setup in the IPL’s 2026 season, appearing in four matches and taking two wickets. The selection for this Test also carries an extra layer of significance for Indian cricket planning: it is the first time since November 2010 that India will play a Test without both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in the same XI.
Pre-match talk and role in the Sri Lanka Tests
On the eve of the Test, India head coach Gautam Gambhir offered few clues about whether Harsh Dubey or Suthar would be selected. Instead of confirming the spinner choice in advance, he stressed that whoever earned the spot would be expected to contribute during the upcoming Sri Lanka campaign.
Gambhir explained the logic behind the decision, saying this fixture offers a rare chance to assess a potential “fourth spinner” option. He added that after this match, India face a tour where they may need to carry four spinners, making the current game an opportunity to look for a longer-term solution.
Gambhir also pointed to the match as a practical platform for experimentation, framing it as an ideal moment to evaluate whether the chosen spinner can be part of India’s plans beyond the immediate series.
On Suthar’s development, the spinner has honed his craft in Chennai through the TNCA first-division league. He has also named Ravichandran Ashwin as an idol, reflecting the influence of the senior spinner’s craft on his own approach. In earlier praise for Suthar, Ashwin highlighted the quality of his rotation and the pace at which the ball turns, noting that Suthar’s distinct advantage pairs well with Harsh Dubey in that regard.
Match setup: India win toss, choose to bat
- India captain Shubman Gill won the toss in Mullanpur and elected to bat against Afghanistan.
- Gill said the team’s preparation had been solid and they had managed good rest, adding that India have a run of home Tests to follow after this one-off encounter.
- Sai Sudharsan kept his place at No. 3, with Devdutt Padikkal missing out after being edged by Sudharsan.
Playing XIs
- India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Manav Suthar, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna.
- Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Abdul Malik, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (captain), Afsar Zazai, Azmatullah Omarzai, Sharafuddin Ashraf, Nangeyalia Kharote, Ziaur Rahman, Mohammad Saleem.
