Graeme Swann has made a bold prediction about India’s newest spin sensation, Manav Suthar, declaring that the young left-arm spinner has all the qualities needed to dominate international cricket for the next decade. The former England off-spinner was so impressed by Suthar’s skills that he jokingly admitted he wished the Rajasthan-born cricketer was available to play for England.

Suthar announced himself on the biggest stage during India’s recent one-off Test against Afghanistan. Making his Test debut, the youngster delivered a memorable performance, claiming a five-wicket haul in his first innings and finishing the match with outstanding figures of 7/62. His control, consistency, and ability to maintain a high pace throughout his spells quickly caught the attention of cricket experts and fans worldwide.

What stood out most was Suthar’s remarkable accuracy. The left-arm spinner rarely bowled short or overpitched deliveries, consistently attacking the stumps while operating at speeds exceeding 90 kph. Traditionally, spinners sacrifice turn and drift when bowling at such pace, but Suthar appeared capable of generating both speed and revolutions on the ball, making him a rare prospect in modern cricket.

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Speaking to PTI, Swann could not hide his admiration for the young spinner. “He is gold dust. I’m telling you this now,” Swann said. “And I know people will get carried away saying he’s only played one Test. After he bowled about 10 balls, just watching his action, the way it came out of his hand, everything. He is gold dust. He’s a world-class spinner and will be for 10 years. Just trust me on this. And I wish he was English,” he added.

Suthar’s emergence comes at an important time for Indian cricket. Following the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin and concerns surrounding Ravindra Jadeja’s recent form, questions had been raised about India’s long-term spin resources. However, Suthar’s impressive debut has reignited confidence that India’s rich spin-bowling legacy remains in safe hands.

Graeme Swann also shared his thoughts on India’s recent leadership change in T20 internationals, admitting he was surprised by the decision to move on from Suryakumar Yadav as captain.

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“You know, I didn’t see it coming, but I understand that Indian cricket, because of the IPL and because of the time of year that these squads get picked, it almost seemed like it was on the cards,” Graeme Swann said.

He went on to praise Suryakumar’s leadership qualities and personality, describing him as a brilliant captain whom he greatly admired. Meanwhile, Shreyas Iyer has now taken over as India’s men’s T20I captain, marking the beginning of a new leadership era.