Manav Suthar reminded India what classical spin looks like

For all the uncertainty around India’s red-ball cricket lately, Manav Suthar’s performance in Galle offered a timely reminder of what India can get from a classical left-arm spinner. The 24-year-old was central to India’s 165-run win over Sri Lanka, finishing with match figures of 10/131.

Suthar became only the seventh Indian spinner to take 10 wickets in an away Test, joining Ravichandran Ashwin, Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

The numbers tell one part of the story. Suthar’s method tells the other. He bowled with control, used the wind to create drift, changed his pace without altering his action and kept returning to the same areas.

There was no rush to force the game. Suthar kept the pressure on, waited for batters to make mistakes and continued to bring different modes of dismissal into play. In Galle, that old-fashioned approach worked beautifully.

SL vs IND, 1st Test Day 5: Highlights | Report

A CLASSICAL SPINNER

India explored left-arm spin through Axar Patel, but he has not established himself as a Test mainstay. Suthar represents a different proposition.

His round-arm action and emphasis on overspin allow him to extract dip and bounce while retaining the ability to turn the ball. Rather than relying on the arm ball, Suthar’s stock delivery itself creates uncertainty. This is spin built on traditional foundations, where basics are refined rather than shortcuts chased.

That was evident from the first ball at Galle. Dinesh Chandimal nicked it behind after Suthar drifted, turned and bounced it sharply.

His second-innings spell illustrated his full range. Pathum Sooriyabandara was trapped lbw. Sonal Dinusha was caught at leg slip. Prabath Jayasuriya was caught behind. Lahiru Kumara edged through to Rishabh Pant. Keshara Nuwantha was bowled.

Five wickets. Five different dismissals. That variety is not accidental. It is deliberate skill and craft.

KL RAHUL’S ASSESSMENT OF SUTHAR

KL Rahul believes Manav Suthar’s biggest strength is his ability to vary his pace without changing his action, making him difficult for batters to read.

“It’s the subtle variations from the same action, from the same angle,” Rahul said. “Without changing his arm speed he’s able to bowl slower and quicker as well.”

Suthar also used the Galle conditions smartly, with Rahul pointing to his ability to work with the wind and generate drift before getting the ball to straighten or come back in.

“When the wind was blowing from one side he used that drift really well and from there the ball straightened or came in,” Rahul said. “That’s something he’s always done even in India.”

The consistency is what ties it together. Suthar keeps hitting the same areas while making small changes in pace, leaving batters with little indication of what is coming.

“He’s very consistent from the same place, just using subtle variations he’s able to do that through the day,” Rahul said.

“His greatest thing is his pace and his consistency to always challenge all modes of dismissal,” he added.

A BIGGER CLAIM

Suthar’s second-innings spell was perhaps the strongest evidence of his temperament. Sri Lanka had moved from 175/6 to 199/6 and were beginning to frustrate India. Suthar’s return changed the game.

He removed Dinusha, Jayasuriya and Kumara in the space of six balls, then dismissed Nuwantha to complete his 10-wicket haul.

It was not simply a burst of turn. It was a spell built on control, pace, bounce and drift. An understanding of what batters would attempt and how to deny it.

Two Tests are nowhere near enough to declare the search complete. But the underlying skill set matters far more than sample size. Suthar has shown he can bowl long spells, maintain pressure and find different ways of taking wickets.

PRESERVE THE STRENGTHS

Cheteshwar Pujara has urged Suthar to protect the qualities that make him effective in Test cricket, particularly with the IPL offering a very different set of demands.

Suthar’s overspin, pace, drift and bounce were all on show in Galle, along with his ability to make small changes without giving batters an obvious clue. Those are the skills that need to remain at the centre of his game.

One performance does not settle India’s long-term spin plans. But Suthar’s 10-wicket haul showed there is a young spinner capable of bowling long spells, holding his line and letting the conditions work for him.

For now, Suthar has given India a reminder of the value of classical spin.

– Ends