NEW DELHI: Test whites with his name on the back and spikes neatly laid out in his room, Manav Suthar was ready for the biggest day of his cricketing career. Just an hour before his Test debut, he picked up the phone and called his coach, Dheeraj Sharma, who had been waiting for his student’s call.“Sapna poora ho gya sir. Apna best karunga,” Suthar told Dheeraj on the morning of his debut.Not wanting to keep him for long before the game, Dheeraj kept the conversation brief. “Beta, sab kuch wahi hai, bas platform bada hai. Bas ye soch ke rakhna. Apne skills pe khelna, bas, baaki sab achha hoga.”Soon after, Suthar walked into the ground, received India Test cap No. 319 from Kuldeep Yadav and was greeted with hugs and congratulations from teammates and support staff.And what followed was a dream start. With bat, he scored a brisk 28 off 41, including dancing down the track for two maximums.After India declared at 564/8, Suthar struck in his very first over in Test cricket and then controlled the innings with remarkable discipline.Suthar finished day two with outstanding figures of 3/21 from 15.5 overs as India tightened their grip on the contest.
Rahul Dravid’s Advice
Long before Suthar earned his maiden India call-up and eventual India debut, he had already caught the attention of one of the game’s greatest minds: Rahul Dravid.According to his coach Dheeraj, Dravid was well aware of Suthar’s all-round abilities, particularly his batting, but repeatedly advised him to prioritise his bowling if he wanted to build a long-term future in the game.“He used to regularly interact with Rahul Dravid. Dravid would often guide him during his India A and Under-19 days. He knew Manav’s abilities well.He would tell him, ‘You can always manage with your batting, but focus on your bowling and maximise it as much as you can’,” Dheeraj told Timesofindia.com.
Manav Suthar with coach Dheeraj Sharma (Special Arrangements)
While many young cricketers divide their attention between formats, Suthar chose to invest heavily in red-ball cricket.“In white-ball cricket, there are five players ready to replace you. In Test cricket, the options are fewer. If a player gets injured in white-ball cricket, a replacement is immediately available. The competition is extremely high,” the coach explained.“Manav has been training with the red ball for the last six to seven years. The main objective was clear: if he wanted to play for India, he first had to become a strong Test cricketer.Around six years ago, he made a conscious decision to focus on red-ball cricket. Most of the cricket he played was with the red ball, and his focus remained firmly on Test cricket,” Dheeraj added.
Manav Suthar with coach Dheeraj Sharma (Special Arrangements)
Suthar first made headlines during the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy season when he emerged as Rajasthan’s leading wicket-taker, claiming 39 wickets in just six matches.His performances for India A further strengthened his case. During the unofficial Test series against Australia A, Suthar finished among the leading wicket-takers and produced a memorable five-wicket haul, returning figures of 5/107.He also impressed during the 2023 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup.In 29 first-class matches, Suthar has picked up 129 wickets, while also representing Rajasthan in 25 List A games and 29 T20 matches.
Shubman Gill’s Backing
Suthar’s rise has also been aided by the faith shown in him by Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill. The left-arm spinner was picked up by the franchise for Rs 20 lakh at the IPL 2024 Auction and was retained for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.According to the coach, Suthar spent countless hours bowling to Gill in the nets, and the skipper too preferred facing him during practice sessions.
Manav Suthar (Photo by BCCI)
“Shubman has supported him immensely. He made sure Manav bowled a lot to him in the nets and always encouraged him. The biggest thing is mindset.“When you play alongside cricketers of that level, your thinking also starts operating at that level, and that helps you perform better. Playing with top players in the IPL and around the Indian team teaches you how to handle pressure situations,” Dheeraj said.
Clever like Ravindra Jadeja
Suthar was only 14 years old when he first walked into Dheeraj’s coaching setup at the SK Bihani Cricket Academy in Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan.When the coach asked him what he wanted to become, the teenager had a straightforward answer: ‘a batter’.But after watching him closely in training sessions, Dheeraj realised there was something special about the youngster’s bowling.The coach even padded up himself and asked Suthar to bowl at him. A few deliveries were enough to convince him that the youngster possessed rare attributes as a spinner.“Agar lamba khelna hai to bowling pe jyada dhyan dena padega,” Dheeraj told him.“Initially, he saw himself primarily as a batter, but I sensed potential in his bowling. Gradually, he realised that he could become even better as a bowler and started working seriously on his basics,” the coach recalled.Dheeraj believes one of Suthar’s biggest strengths is his intelligence as a bowler and the variety he possesses.“He is a very clever bowler and has tremendous variety. He bowls with good aggression as well. When conditions offer assistance, he can bring the ball back in sharply.His seam movement and drift are excellent. His arm ball is a major weapon, and both his top-spinner and conventional spin deliveries are very effective,” he said.
Next Ravindra Jadeja?
With Ravindra Jadeja entering the latter phase of his career and India constantly searching for the next generation of spin-bowling all-rounders, comparisons are inevitable.However, Dheeraj is cautious about placing such expectations on his student.
Which quality do you think is crucial for a successful Test cricketer?
“People call him Rajasthan’s Jadeja. The journey ahead is still very long, but he has enormous potential. For now, red-ball cricket remains his top priority,” the coach signed off.
