Veteran cricketer-turned-commentator Aakash Chopra has said that Manav Suthar has sealed his place in India’s Test side in Asian conditions, and he could be in the plan even on pitches that don’t favour the spinners. He added that the left-arm spinner is an upgraded version of Ravindra Jadeja as a bowler as well. Suthar registered figures of 4/76 in 21.4 overs on Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on Monday, August 17 as well. His spell helped India bundle out Sri Lanka for 284 in response to their first innings score of 462 as well.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “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.”
“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 further added.
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However, Aakash Chopra also lauded Manav Suthar for bowling potent spells in his first two Tests.
“Suthar has played only two Test matches, and he is consistently saying that he is good. He comes from Sri Ganganagar. It’s far away from a cricket hotspot. However, to come from there and then to focus on long-form cricket and consistently take wickets – Duleep Trophy, India A, then India, and a Player of the Match performance in his first match itself,” he said.
“He has already taken four wickets, and it is not beyond the realm of thought that if he takes five or six wickets in the second innings, he could become the Player of the Match of this Test match as well, because 20 wickets need to be taken to win this match, and to do that, whoever takes around 10 wickets is going to be the frontrunner,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
