New Delhi: Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar produced a memorable performance on his Test debut, claiming six wickets to help India bowl out Afghanistan for 152 and enforce the follow-on on the third day of the one-off Test on Monday.
The 23-year-old Rajasthan cricketer returned impressive figures of 6 for 33 from 22 overs, becoming only the 10th Indian bowler to take a five-wicket haul on Test debut. He is also the seventh Indian spinner to achieve the feat, marking a remarkable start to his international career.
Suthar’s figures rank among the finest by an Indian on Test debut, second only to Narendra Hirwani’s iconic 8 for 61 against the West Indies in 1988. His performance played a crucial role in giving India complete control of the match.
Afghanistan resumed the day at 113 for 5 but struggled against India’s disciplined bowling attack. Fast bowler Prasidh Krishna struck early by dismissing Azmatullah Omarzai without scoring, setting the tone for the morning session.
Suthar then took charge, dismantling the lower order with a series of timely breakthroughs. He first removed Sharafuddin Ashraf before claiming the prized wicket of Rahmat Shah, who top-scored for Afghanistan with a resilient 60. The spinner then trapped Mohammad Saleem Safi leg-before-wicket to complete his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket before adding another wicket to finish with six.
Afghanistan’s innings ended in 58.4 overs, handing India a massive first-innings lead of 412 runs. With a dominant advantage, the hosts chose to enforce the follow-on. Members of the Indian team management, including head coach Gautam Gambhir, applauded Suthar’s effort as he returned to the dressing room.
Suthar’s success follows a strong domestic record. In 29 first-class matches, he has claimed 129 wickets while also contributing valuable runs with the bat. Consistent performances in domestic cricket and for India A paved the way for his selection, and his debut display has now firmly established him as one of India’s most promising young spin bowlers.
