Now Reading: Keshav Maharaj calls Manav Suthar a gem for India
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Keshav Maharaj calls Manav Suthar a gem for India
South African spinner Keshav Maharaj has praised India's Manav Suthar as a 'real gem' after the left-arm orthodox bowler took 17 wickets in his first two Tests, against Sri Lanka in Galle. Maharaj, who has 218 Test wickets himself, said he had seen only limited footage but was impressed by Suthar's control and subtle variations.
Maharaj welcomed Suthar into the shrinking club of classical left-arm spinners excelling in red-ball cricket. When asked to rank himself alongside Ravindra Jadeja and Sri Lanka's Prabath Jayasuriya, Maharaj placed himself third, calling Jadeja the best due to his longevity and all-round ability, while also praising Jayasuriya for filling the shoes of Rangana Herath.
Suthar, from Rajasthan, also played county cricket for Warwickshire. Maharaj backed him to carry forward India's Test spin legacy in the next decade.
Indian Opinion Analysis
Manav Suthar's entry into Test cricket at 22 fills a long-term gap in India's left-arm spin pipeline behind Ravindra Jadeja, who turns 37 next year. With Jadeja and Axar Patel both past 30, the BCCI has been grooming younger spinners for red-ball duty. Suthar's 17 wickets in two Tests on Sri Lankan dust bowls is an exceptional start, but the real test will come on flatter tracks in Australia or England. India's next Test assignment is at home against Bangladesh in October, where Suthar could cement his place in the XI. Watch whether the selectors give him a full home season to build continuity.
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Source: rediff.com
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