Manav Suthar emerges as India’s leading Test weapon after New Chandigarh and Galle displays

Manav Suthar has emerged as India’s biggest weapon in Test cricket following standout performances in his debut Test against Afghanistan at New Chandigarh and in the World Test Championship match against Sri Lanka at Galle, with these developments recorded by 22 August 2026.

Suthar, 24, began his rise in the Ranji Trophy with Rajasthan after making his first-class debut in 2022 and quickly became his state’s leading red-ball wicket-taker. In his first eight first-class matches he claimed 44 wickets, including four 4-wicket hauls, two 5-wicket hauls and two 10-wicket hauls, and he recorded his maiden first-class hundred against Himachal Pradesh in a Group D Ranji Trophy match in 2026. He also represents the Gujarat Titans in the IPL and, across his career as reported, has picked 157 wickets in his Test career in just 33 appearances alongside 1,104 runs with the bat, including a first-class century.

Called up to international cricket after his domestic form, Suthar took seven wickets on Test debut against Afghanistan at New Chandigarh as India won the match by 300 runs and contributed with runs in the lower order. His selection came for the Afghanistan tour of India one-off Test series and his all-round contributions began to shape perceptions of him as a multi-dimensional option for India.

Suthar’s emergence as a frontline spinner accelerated in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, which was his debut in the World Test Championship; he finished that match with a maiden 10-wicket haul and was India’s leading wicket-taker across both innings. Those performances left him with 17 wickets in just two games after his debut, including two five-wicket hauls and the ten-wicket match return.

The changing makeup of India’s spin stocks has framed Suthar’s rise: over the past decade Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja accounted for a large share of India’s home success, and Ashwin’s retirement has triggered discussion about the availability of genuine spinners. With Jadeja still operating from one end, Kuldeep Yadav receiving limited opportunities and Washington Sundar characterised more by line-and-length accuracy than big spin, Suthar has positioned himself as a strong contender for India’s red-ball attack.

Suthar’s attributes cited in reports include the ability to spin the ball rather than relying only on drift or pitch-assisted turn, consistent length across long spells, adaptability across different conditions and useful contributions with the bat in the lower order. He has also produced two five-wicket hauls in contrasting conditions, traits that have been highlighted as giving him an edge over several contemporaries.

Those performances have been used to justify his selection for the Afghanistan tour of India one-off Test series and to present him as a potential option for India’s longer-term plans in red-ball cricket, including consideration as a future replacement for established all-rounders.