More than a dream Test debut for Manav Suthar against Afghanistan in Mullanpur, the breakthrough performance was a reward for years of persistence and hard work. He had been there so far before being recognized by many who backed him without hesitation and evident potential waiting to be unwrapped yet again finally seeing daylight when the world later at zero hours entered his box score.
He left his imprint in a full-orbed way, with the left-arm spinner’s match-winning figures of 7 for 62 awarding him the Player of the Match honor in India’s landslide triumph on any largest stage. His remarkable first-innings haul of 6 for 33 also stands as the second-best bowling performance by an Indian on Test debut, embattling Narendra Hirwani’s memorable feat.
But those who knew Suthar’s story weren’t surprised, while fans and pundits alike praised the addition of a third star to the trade. One of them was Aashish Kapoor, who had followed the young boy since his U-19 days. It was in the formative years of the Gujarat Titans setup that Kapoor was first introduced to Suthar, who’d become a net bowler for the franchise during their debut IPL season.
At the time, Suthar was just another prospect who was helping the team in training. But he did not spend long in the shadows. After Watching the 20yr old bowling in a couple of practice sessions, Players and support staff developed admiration for the control, consistency and natural ability
In these five years, Suthar was honing his craft and practicing with international level veterans. Kapoor and Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra watched him closely, discussing often how his style of bowling would suit the rigours of Test cricket.
These projections have, of course, already come true. It was his debut and Suthar showed his composure, accuracy and skill to maximize conditions, a potential long-term red-ball asset for India.
Suthar’s journey from modest IPL practice sessions to being the star of his first Test appearance is a powerful reminder that progress, patience, and preparation unlock extraordinary opportunities in sport. So he is still early in his journey but the future already looks super bright.