NEW DELHI: Manav Suthar announced his arrival on the Test stage in stunning fashion, producing a six-wicket haul against Afghanistan in his maiden appearance for India at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur.The left-arm spinner finished with exceptional figures of 6/33 from 22 overs as Afghanistan were bowled out for 152 in response to India’s imposing first-innings total of 564/8 declared. Suthar’s spell not only put India firmly in control of the one-off Test but also earned him a place in the record books.The 23-year-old registered the best bowling figures in an innings on Test debut by an Indian in 38 years. The last Indian to better that mark in his debut Test innings was Narendra Hirwani, who produced a legendary performance against the West Indies in Chennai in 1988, claiming 8/61 and later finishing the match with 16 wickets.Suthar also joined an exclusive club of Indian bowlers to register six-wicket hauls on Test debut. Before him, only Hirwani, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dilip Doshi and Syed Abid Ali had achieved the feat in an innings during their first Test appearances.Furthermore, Suthar became the 10th Indian (seventh among spinners) to pick a five-wicket haul on Test debut.What made Suthar’s effort particularly impressive was the control he displayed throughout a long spell. He conceded just 33 runs in 22 overs, including 10 maidens, while maintaining an outstanding economy rate of 1.50. His victims included Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah, Afsar Zazai, Sharafuddin Ashraf and Mohammad Saleem Safi.After picking up three wickets on the second day, Suthar returned on Day 3 to complete the milestone haul. His ability to generate drift, extract turn and vary his pace consistently troubled Afghanistan’s batting line-up.ALSO READ: ‘Rajasthan ka Jadeja’: The making of Manav Suthar, India’s newest left-arm spin hopeWhile Prasidh Krishna chipped in with three wickets, it was Suthar who stole the spotlight with a memorable debut performance. With Ravindra Jadeja entering the latter stages of his career, India’s selectors will be encouraged by the emergence of another promising left-arm spinning option in the red-ball format.For Suthar, it was a dream beginning to what could be a long international journey.
