Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra has showered praise on Manav Suthar amid the first Test match against Sri Lanka. Chopra backed Suthar to take over as Ravindra Jadeja’s successor and said the former is like an upgraded version of the latter.
Suthar returned with impressive figures of 4-76 in 21.4 overs he bowled and played a key role in skittling out Sri Lanka at 284. The left-arm orthodox spinner struck on his first ball, dismissing Sri Lanka’s veteran batter Dinesh Chandimal.
Furthermore, he accounted for Lahiru Udara, Prabath Jayasuriya and Lahiru Kumara.
“I will say yes because he is a mighty guy. When he releases the ball, it drifts, bounces, and turns. He dismisses you while defending. When you can make the opposing batter lick dust while defending, and that too repeatedly, that tells you this guy has the might,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
Suthar also played a crucial knock of 24 runs off 43 balls in the first innings.
“Along with that, he also bats, which means you can keep him in mind even in overseas conditions. I am seeing him as a successor to Ravindra Jadeja because Jaddu will go at some stage, and you will need somebody like him. If I look at him purely as a bowler, I think he is Jadeja’s upgraded version,” he added.
Chopra praised Suthar for his impressive spell against Sri Lanka and added that the spinner is consistently proving his mettle.
“Suthar has played only two Test matches, and he is consistently saying that he is good. He comes from Sri Ganganagar. It’s far away from a cricket hotspot. However, to come from there and then to focus on long-form cricket and consistently take wickets – Duleep Trophy, India A, then India, and a Player of the Match performance in his first match itself,” he said.
The former Delhi cricketer believes Suthar could win another Player of the Match award if he is among the leading wicket-takers in the second innings.
“He has already taken four wickets, and it is not beyond the realm of thought that if he takes five or six wickets in the second innings, he could become the Player of the Match of this Test match as well, because 20 wickets need to be taken to win this match, and to do that, whoever takes around 10 wickets is going to be the frontrunner,” Chopra observed.
India is currently leading by 288 runs in the second innings.
