A period of change has started in the Indian cricket team with time, where after the retirement of senior players, young talents are cementing their place. Meanwhile, former India opener and renowned commentator Aakash Chopra has praised a young player who is considered the perfect successor to experienced spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja in the Indian Test team. This 24 year old young player is none other than Manav Suthar who is making waves with his spin and batting.
Showed strength in the Galle Test and did wonders with the bat too.
Manav Suthar has recently attracted everyone's attention with his brilliant bowling and batting during the Test match being played against Sri Lanka in Galle. While bowling lethally in the first innings of the match, Suthar took 4 important wickets. After this, while batting at number eight, he also contributed a useful 24 runs. Manav, who made his international debut in June this year, won the title of 'Player of the Match' by taking 7 wickets in his very first Test match (against Afghanistan).
Why did Aakash Chopra say 'upgraded version'?
While talking on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra praised Manav Suthar. When he was asked whether Suthar has cemented his place on Asian pitches, he replied in the affirmative, saying, “The guy is very strong. The ball that comes out of his hand, it drifts, bounces and turns as well. He can bite the batsman while defending.”
Akash further said that 37-year-old Ravindra Jadeja is at the last stage of his career, having taken more than 350 wickets and more than 4000 runs in Test cricket. In future, when Jadeja retires, the team will need a match winner like him. Akash believes that if seen only from the bowling point of view, Manav Suthar can prove to be an 'upgraded version' of Ravindra Jadeja, as he can prove to be very useful for the team even in overseas conditions.
Traveled from Sriganganagar, away from the cricket map
This success in human betterment has not been achieved overnight. Suthar, who hails from a city like Sriganganagar in Rajasthan, has worked hard for a long time in domestic cricket. Sriganganagar is not considered a traditional cricket hotspot, but after leaving there, Suthar kept his entire focus on red-ball cricket i.e. long format. From Duleep Trophy to consistently picking wickets for 'India A', his journey is an example of discipline and hard work.
Special preparations were made in BCCI 'Center of Excellence'
His rigorous training also played a big role in his success on the Sri Lanka tour. Just before the Test series, Manav Suthar had special practice with the Kookaburra ball for 10 days at the BCCI's 'Centre of Excellence' (COE). This practice, conducted in the open field amid strong winds, helped him adjust to the difficult pitches and conditions of Galle, the result of which is clearly visible on the field today.