Ravindra Jadeja was rested from the India vs Afghanistan Test for a reason. At 37, India’s greatest spin all-rounders don’t have many years left in Test cricket. The transition has begun, with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin all retiring in the last 18 months. Jadeja is the last remaining member of his generation.
Looking for Jadeja’s replacement
The selectors realise that for India to succeed in Test cricket over the next decade, they need to find a backup for Jadeja. Now, a like-for-like replacement is virtually impossible. Axar Patel, a similar archetype to Jadeja, isn’t nearly as good a batter or bowler in Test cricket.
Jadeja is a one-of-one, much like Ashwin. You won’t find another one like him. But you can get someone like him. While Jadeja’s batting has been exceptional, it’s his bowling at home that kept India ahead in the game. He often went toe-to-toe with Ashwin. To replace him, you first need a proper spinner.
Manav Suthar shines on debut
Manav Suthar and Harsh Dubey were identified as the next-best. One of them, Suthar, was handed their Test debut, and boy, has he impressed. Unlike Jadeja, Suthar’s a bowling all-rounder. He has been on the radar for quite some time. Suthar’s labelled as a magician with the ball, someone who gets the dip, the drift, and the prodigious turn.
Before showcasing that, Suthar got the chance to bat. He played a punchy 28-run cameo, with 4 boundaries. As mentioned before, Suthar isn’t a proper batter. He averages 25.54 with the bat in first-class cricket compared to Jadeja’s 44.82. His returns in Test cricket won’t be much better.
But he was exceptional with the ball. He turned the ball over 5 degrees multiple times in his first over itself. Something Jadeja doesn’t normally do, especially on a second-day pitch with no rough or wear and tear. Suthar gets revs on the ball that many don’t get. Heck, it’s the first time since Ashwin that we’ve seen an Indian finger spinner turn that ball this much.
After bowling ripsnorters, Suthar bowled one full, and Afghanistan’s opener, Abdul Malik, had to go for it. The ball was spinning so much that he had to take the aggressive route. In the process, he edged the ball that turned away while sweeping. The ball hit his helmet and went to Mohammed Siraj at backward square. It took Suthar just 4 balls to pick up his maiden Test wicket.
But those 4 balls were enough to show that he belongs. In his spell, we saw him bowl a bit faster and throw in straighter ones, but more often than not, he was in and around the off stump. Ensuring he kept all three modes of dismissal in play. That’s what a seasoned spinner does, and Suthar’s just 23. It’s early, but it looks like India has found another great spinner in him.
