Manav Suthar’s dream Test debut against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh has quickly turned him into one of the most talked-about young cricketers in India. The left-arm spinner announced his arrival on the international stage with a sensational performance, claiming six wickets for just 33 runs in the first innings before adding another wicket in the second. His match-winning display not only justified the selectors’ faith in him but also sparked fresh debate about India’s spin-bowling hierarchy, particularly regarding Axar Patel’s place in the Test setup.

While many fans have questioned Axar Patel’s omission from the squad, former India opener Aakash Chopra believes the selectors made the right call by backing Suthar. According to Chopra, team selection is influenced by far more than just statistics. Factors such as conditions, team balance and long-term planning often play an equally important role.

“Whenever you see, it seems like justice hasn’t been done with Axar Patel. However, selection is not just about how good someone’s numbers are,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel. “Let’s be very honest, Jadeja and Axar have played together very few times, and Axar hasn’t had chances at all outside India. Ravindra Jadeja goes as your primary spinner there.”

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Chopra pointed out that despite both being spin-bowling all-rounders, Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja offer different qualities to the team. He also referenced chief selector Ajit Agarkar’s statement that Jadeja was rested from the one-off Test primarily as part of workload management rather than due to form or performance concerns. The former cricketer further explained that Jadeja’s value often extends beyond his bowling. In recent years, he has evolved into a dependable lower-order batter, making him a more complete package in overseas conditions.

“However, he also plays more as a batter and less as a spinner because he doesn’t pick up that many wickets,” Aakash Chopra observed. “I think they have also thought that you have to go beyond. If you see Axar’s bowling style, he needs help from the pitch to be effective. He looks extremely ready and effective only for Indian conditions.”

What has impressed Chopra most about Suthar is his attacking mindset. Unlike many finger spinners who are often used to control the scoring rate, Suthar appears to possess genuine wicket-taking instincts.

“Manav Suthar is different. There is an eye Test here, which means do you actually trust your instincts and what you see,” Aakash Chopra explained. “Looking at Manav Suthar, it seems like no matter how good the conditions are, he is not going to be a defensive option. He can play that role as well. He is very accurate, but he has wicket-taking ability.”

Chopra also highlighted Suthar’s ability to generate drift, dip and extra turn—qualities that make him a dangerous bowler across different conditions.

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“Whether you talk about drift, dip, or extra spin, he has got that all. You very rarely get a finger spinner who is so effective,” he said. “For one more time, I am going with the selectors. Their thought process is not wrong. It seems like it’s a slight injustice with Axar, but I thin k Manav Suthar is an exceptional kid.” After such an impressive debut, Suthar has not only strengthened his claim for a long-term place in India’s Test squad but has also given selectors another exciting spin option for the future.