Manav Suthar (Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry photo)
New Delhi: Watching 23-year-old Manav Suthar weave his magic against Afghanistan in the one-off Test at Mullanpur must bring back memories of Ravichandran Ashwin. Much like Ashwin did on his Test debut in 2011, the Rajasthan left-arm pacer made an immediate impact on the biggest stage, writing history with a sensational six-wicket haul in his first Test innings.Handing over his Test cap against Afghanistan, Southar announced his arrival in style, returning figures of 6/33 as Afghanistan were bowled out for 152 in reply to India’s declaration of 564/8.
The performance earned Southar a place in the record books. His 6/33 is the best bowling figures by an Indian on his first Test in 38 years. The last Indian to produce a better effort in the first Test innings was Narendra Hirwani, who famously took 8/61 against the West Indies in Chennai in 1988 before finishing with a remarkable match haul of 16 wickets.Suthar also joined an exclusive club of Indian bowlers to take six wickets in an innings in the first Test. Before him, only Narendra Hirwani, Ravichandran Ashwin, Dilip Doshi and Syed Abid Ali achieved this feat.The 23-year-old became only the 10th Indian overall – and the seventh – to take a five-wicket haul on his first Test.Ashwin, who himself picked up nine wickets in his first Test against the West Indies in Delhi in 2011, including figures of 6/47 in the second innings, was among the first to congratulate the youngster.
“Manav Suthar. Best wishes for a great career ahead,” Ashwin wrote on social media.Suthar’s achievement is significant for more than one reason. He became only the second Indian this century to take a five-wicket haul in his first Test innings after Amit Mishra, who took 5/71 against Australia in 2008.
His figures are also the second best against Afghanistan in Test cricket, behind Rahkeem Cornwall’s 7/75 in Lucknow in 2019.
- Best bowling figures in India’s first Test innings:
- 8/61 – Narendra Hirwani vs West Indies, Chennai, 1988
- 33/6 – Manav Suthar vs Afghanistan, Mullanpur, 2026*
- 06/55 – Syed Abid Ali vs Australia in Adelaide 1967
- 6/103 – Dilip Doshi v Australia, Chennai, 1979
With his dream debut, Suthar not only etched his name alongside some of India’s best bowlers but also gave a glimpse of what could be a bright future in Indian cricket.
