Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar marked a highly promising Test debut on Sunday, 7 June, claiming three wickets and contributing with the bat as India seized firm control of the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in New Chandigarh. Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar singled out the youngster for special mention, calling it a 'highly encouraging debut.'

Gavaskar's Assessment of Suthar

Speaking to Jio Hotstar, Gavaskar highlighted Suthar's all-round composure as what set the debut apart. 'Manav Suthar has certainly made an impressive start to his Test career. What stood out was not just his bowling, but also the confidence he showed with the bat, particularly in the way he used his feet and looked comfortable at the crease,' the former India captain said.

On Suthar's bowling, Gavaskar noted the debutant's accuracy and ability to exploit the surface. 'With the ball, he was extremely accurate and consistently put the batters under pressure. There was some assistance available from the surface, which he utilised well, but the real test for any spinner comes on flatter pitches where greater variety and adaptability are required,' he added.

Suthar's Wickets and Key Contributions

Suthar removed Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, and Afsar Zazai during Afghanistan's innings, maintaining disciplined control throughout his spell. Despite the caveat about tougher conditions ahead, Gavaskar concluded that Suthar 'has shown the attributes to be a strong contender at the Test level going forward.'

Notably, this is the kind of debut performance that selectors tend to remember — a debutant who contributes in multiple phases of the game signals readiness for the longer format's demands, not just a single-discipline role.

Prasidh Krishna's Tactical Brilliance

Gavaskar also reserved praise for fast bowler Prasidh Krishna, who finished with figures of 2 for 27, dismissing Sediqullah Atal and Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi. 'Prasidh Krishna showed excellent awareness and adaptability in the way he approached his spell. As a fast bowler, the natural instinct is often to operate on a shorter length and use bounce to trouble batters, but he recognised the conditions and adjusted accordingly,' Gavaskar said.

'By pitching the ball much fuller, he was able to generate movement back into the left-handers and create genuine wicket-taking opportunities. Both his wickets came as a result of that adjustment, one through a clean-bowled dismissal and the other via LBW. It was a good example of a bowler understanding the conditions, moving away from his natural tendencies, and executing a plan effectively,' he added.

India's Dominant Position After Day One

India had earlier posted a formidable 564 for 8 declared, anchored by centuries from captain Shubman Gill and KL Rahul. Washington Sundar contributed an unbeaten 52 to help the hosts close out their innings from a position of strength. Afghanistan now face the dual challenge of a large first-innings deficit and a bowling attack that has already found its rhythm in these conditions.

With India holding a commanding lead and two specialist spinners among the wicket-takers, the match trajectory strongly favours the hosts heading into the next day's play.