Former Indian leg-spinner Piyush Chawla has showered praise on Manav Suthar after the second day of the ongoing one-off Test match against Afghanistan at New Chandigarh. While making his debut, Suthar got off to a dream start, getting a wicket on his fourth in his maiden over.
Suthar registered figures of 3-21 in 15.5 overs he bowled on the second day’s play. The left-arm orthodox spinner accounted for Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Afsar Zazai.
Chawla said a spinner, who uses his index finger has been seen after a long time.
“A spinner who uses his index finger has been seen after a long time, or else, you will see many spinners who undercut the ball. We got to see proper orthodox left-arm spin bowling. He was getting turn because he has such a strong action, and the base is excellent, the way he finishes in his follow-through,” Chawla said on Star Sports.
Chawla said the debutant was the pick of the Indian spinners as he was putting a lot of effort behind the ball.
“Other spinners have also bowled, but they didn’t look as effective. He was putting a lot of revs on the ball and was generating the force behind the ball. If you are dismissing someone in gully while defending, it means you are putting a lot of force behind the ball, and that’s why he looked so effective. His bowling gladdened the heart,” Chawla observed.
On the other hand, former Indian assistant coach Abhishek Nayar praised Suthar for his accuracy and said the spinner can land the delivery on the same spot consistently.
“When you judge a new player, performance is one thing, but you see the skill. If you see his pitch map, you can say that this boy can pitch the ball at the right spot after waking up, because this pitch map is not easy. 81 percent of the balls were around the same spot,” he said.
Nayar said the Rajasthan spinner was almost unplayable on a spin-friendly pitch and added the spinner has all the arrows in his quiver.
“As Piyush said, there was no help on the pitch. It didn’t seem like the ball was turning when all other bowlers bowled. With him, it seemed he was playing on a turner. Imagine how difficult this bowler will be on a pitch where there is rough or where the ball turns from the center part of the pitch. He didn’t use the arm ball much. When he uses the arm ball as well, he will have all balls in his repertoire,” Nayar observed.
Suthar has already bagged a six-wicket haul in the first innings.
