Former India spinner Murali Kartik believes Manav Suthar could eventually emerge as a long-term option for India in the Test side, with the youngster’s emergence coming at an important time as Ravindra Jadeja enters the latter stages of his career.
Jadeja and Suthar are both part of India’s squad for the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, with the two left-arm spinners expected to feature in the playing XI for the opening Test in Galle.
While Kartik was quick to insist that Suthar should not be directly compared with Jadeja, he believes India have found a spinner with the kind of qualities that could make him an important part of the team’s future.
“I think he is a very, very good bowler. Let’s not compare him with anybody. He is old-school; he has many things going very well for him,” Kartik told reporters in an interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.
“For me, I was jumping with joy when I was doing that game against Afghanistan, because I was calling that game, and for me to see somebody release the ball like that and have that kind of consistency and have that kind of skill,” he added.
“After a very long time, we are seeing a bowler like that. Maybe for India, it has come at a good time.”
‘Ravindra Jadeja is on the wrong side of thirty’
For Kartik, the timing of Suthar’s emergence is particularly interesting given where Jadeja is in his career.
The veteran all-rounder is now 37, and while he remains an important part of India’s Test plans, Kartik believes the team cannot afford to wait until his career is over before thinking about what comes next.
“Ravindra Jadeja will punch me the next time he meets me, but at the end of the day, he is on the wrong side of thirty,” Kartik said.
“He is in the twilight of his career, and we don’t know how much longer he will play. From that point of view, you are always looking at passing the baton.”
Suthar offers more than just his bowling
Suthar’s case is not built solely around his left-arm spin.
The youngster made his Test debut earlier this year and immediately made an impact, finishing with seven wickets, including a six-wicket haul against Afghanistan in Mullanpur.
He also contributed with the bat in India’s recent three-day warm-up game against SLC XI, scoring 41 in the first innings and finishing with 45 runs overall while also picking up two wickets.
That ability to contribute in both departments could make Suthar particularly valuable as India look to gradually build their next generation of Test cricketers.
For now, Kartik wants the youngster judged on what he brings to the table rather than on whether he can replicate Jadeja.
But with Suthar already in the Test setup and Jadeja approaching the twilight of his career, the possibility of a future changing of the guard is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.