Aakash Chopra hails Manav Suthar as 'upgraded version' of Ravindra Jadeja after four-wicket haul in Galle

Former India batter Aakash Chopra on August 18, 2026, described Manav Suthar as an "upgraded version" of Ravindra Jadeja after the 24-year-old finished with 4/76 in India's first innings against Sri Lanka in Galle during the first Test.

Chopra made the comment on his YouTube channel when asked whether Suthar had cemented his place for Asian conditions, and he highlighted both Suthar's bowling and batting as reasons for his assessment. Suthar has played only two Test matches to date and is a Rajasthan youngster from Sri Ganganagar. On debut against Afghanistan he took seven wickets across the two innings and scored 28, earning Player of the Match honours.

In Galle, Suthar removed Dinesh Chandimal with his first delivery of the innings and later dismissed Lahiru Udara, using flight, dip, turn and bounce to trouble Sri Lanka's batters. He finished with four wickets as India bowled Sri Lanka out for 284, giving India a 178-run first-innings lead. The spell followed an opening wicket from Mohammed Siraj, who removed Nishan Fernando with only his second delivery.

Chopra outlined the specific qualities he sees in Suthar, saying: "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."

He added further praise in the same interview: "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.

Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja also contributed to the innings as India dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup, supporting the collective effort that produced the 178-run advantage. Chopra pointed to Suthar's pathway through domestic and representative levels—Duleep Trophy, India A, then India—as evidence of his steady progression into the international side.

With only two Tests behind him, Suthar still has plenty to prove, but following a Player of the Match-winning debut and another four-wicket haul in Galle the early signs have strengthened the comparisons to Jadeja.