Manav Suthar in for Washington Sundar as India weigh Test selection at Galle
Manav Suthar has been drafted into India’s playing XI for the ongoing first Test against Sri Lanka at Galle after Washington Sundar was ruled out, and Suthar took a wicket with the first ball he bowled.
India’s red-ball setup is in transition following the retirements of Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ravichandran Ashwin, and the side missed out on qualification for the ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 Final before Shubman Gill took charge as captain. The team has retained Axar Patel as the second all-rounder in limited-overs formats to replace Ravindra Jadeja, while Test selection is being reassessed for longer-term stability. What Gautam Gambhir demands from his all-rounders is match-winning spin bowling skills with lower-order batting resistance.
Washington Sundar made his India debut in 2021 as a 22-year-old and established a reputation with his performance at the Gabba that same year. Having started his career as a batter, Sundar is described as a steady lower-order option who can also bowl tidy spells, and he scored his maiden Test hundred during India’s tour of England in 2025. His batting profile offers India the ability to promote him up the order when required and to add depth in overseas conditions.
Manav Suthar, a 23-year-old left-arm spinner, made his India debut in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in June and finished that match with seven wickets. Suthar’s batting has been characterised as mostly balancing, while his bowling is credited with drift, sharp turn and natural variation off the pitch. Those attributes were noted as distinguishing him as a specialist left-arm spin option in India’s emerging crop.
The two players offer contrasting skill sets: Suthar is said to boast a higher bowling strike rate in his short career with pure spin variations, whereas Sundar provides greater versatility as a batter and against left-handed-heavy lineups. Suthar can act as a lower-order hitter, while Sundar is presented as a proven middle-order batter who can be promoted when the team needs batting depth.
With Sundar ruled out, Suthar was named in India’s XI for the Galle Test and made an immediate impact by claiming a wicket with his first delivery. The article notes Ravindra Jadeja has entered the twilight of his career, and describes Suthar as the left-arm spin archetype India would eventually need as the team rebuilds its spin resources.
Suthar may not immediately oust Sundar from the Test side on a permanent basis, but his rapid rise is framed as bolstering India’s spin options as the Shubman Gill-led side aims to qualify for the ICC WTC 2025-27 Final. Shubman Gill is the captain of the India Test team.