India needed a victory in Sri Lanka not just to keep their chances alive of making the World Test Championship final but also to bury the spin demons that had led to their debacle at home against New Zealand and South Africa.
If Man of the Match Devdutt Padikkal’s dominating century in the first innings lend their innings the perfect start, Manav Suthar’s control coupled with the ability to extract enough turn and bounce left Sri Lanka stunned on a spiteful wicket in Galle.
The home team started the day at 84/4 with stoic determination to save the game. But Suthar’s challenge was too hard for them to fathom.
Sri Lanka’s defiance ended a little after Lunch on Wednesday as Suthar cleaned up
Keshara Nuwantha to hand India a 165-run win. It was an appropriate climax for the left-arm spinner who bowled his heart out to claim six wickets in the innings for match figures of 10/131.
Once he dismissed Sonal Dinusha in the 76th over, the batter missing out on his second ton in the match by 16 runs, Suthar ran through the rest to end up with four wickets in 10 balls.
KL Rahul was impressed by Suthar’s skillset.
“I think from all the times we’ve played him in the nets, it’s the subtle variations,” Rahul said. “With the same action, from the same angle, without changing his arm speed, he’s able to bowl slower, and with the same arm speed he’s able to bowl quicker.
“Just very, very subtle variations, and his (use of) angles. Here in Galle as well, where breeze was blowing from one side, he used that drift really well, and from there the ball straightens or comes in. That’s something that he’s always done, even for India A… From one spot, just using subtle variations, he’s able to do that through the day.”
Captain Shubman Gill could not hide his admiration for Suthar playing in only his second Test. “He has been bowling magnificently. Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time.”
Not only did Suthar outbowl the two senior spinners, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav, he also showed that he had it in him to be the finger spinner India had been craving for.
Rival coach Gary Kirsten also praised the 24-year-old. “He’s a fantastic talent. He’s got a lot of wickets (17 from two Tests) already. I think he’s a great spinner for Test cricket. He gets on top of his action a little bit and gets the ball to bounce.”
Suthar was busy posing with the ball and receiving congratulatory pats, as he held up the ball on the way to the pavilion.
Moments later, rain came pouring down around the stadium. It was as if the rain gods had been waiting for Suthar to complete India’s win.
His big test will come not in New Zealand but against Australia at home early next year in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.