Manav Suthar's 10-wicket Galle haul: Kookaburra practice at home was the key
Synopsis
A 22-year-old spinner practising with a Kookaburra ball at home before a tour might sound routine — but for Manav Suthar, it translated into a 10-wicket haul in just his second Test, demolishing Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle. The detail behind the performance reveals a cricketer who prepares with rare precision.
Key Takeaways
Manav Suthar claimed 10 wickets (10 for 101) in just his second Test , helping India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle on 20 August 2025 .
Suthar took 6 for 55 in Sri Lanka's second innings to seal the result.
He practised with the Kookaburra ball both at home and in the nets after India's Afghanistan match to prepare for Sri Lankan conditions.
India arrived in Sri Lanka ten days before the Test, giving Suthar crucial acclimatisation time.
Suthar, Ravindra Jadeja , and Kuldeep Yadav collectively agreed to bowl with patience, knowing the Galle pitch would trouble new batters.
India lead the two-match series 1-0 ; the second Test begins on 23 August .
Left-arm spinner Manav Suthar has revealed that he began practising with the Kookaburra ball at home well before India's tour of Sri Lanka, a deliberate preparation that paid rich dividends in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium on 20 August 2025. The 22-year-old claimed 10 wickets in only his second Test appearance, steering India to a commanding 165-run victory and a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
The Galle masterclass in numbers
Suthar finished the match with figures of 10 for 101, including a devastating 6 for 55 in Sri Lanka's second innings. The performance made him only the second Indian spinner in recent years to claim a ten-wicket haul in a Test on Sri Lankan soil, and it came in just his second appearance at the highest level — a remarkable statement of temperament as much as skill.
The Kookaburra preparation that made the difference
Speaking in a video released by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), Suthar explained that his focus after India's match against Afghanistan shifted entirely to mastering the Kookaburra ball, which is used in Sri Lanka unlike the SG ball common in home Tests.
'I take cricket very seriously. My focus is to improve day to day when I go to practice. I practice as much as I can. My focus after the Afghanistan game was to adapt as soon as possible. I practised a lot with the Kookaburra ball. I practised in nets and at home. I was focusing on in-house games. It was very important,' Suthar said.
He also credited India's decision to arrive in Sri Lanka ten days before the Test, which gave him additional time to settle into local conditions. 'We came to Sri Lanka ten days ago, and it helped a lot in adapting to the environment and how to play with the Kookaburra ball. I get time to adapt. It has helped me a lot,' he added.
Patience as a tactical weapon
Beyond the technical preparation, Suthar highlighted patience as a central theme in India's bowling strategy on a Galle pitch that offered consistent assistance to spinners. He revealed that he, veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, and left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav held discussions about maintaining composure and trusting the surface.
'We were talking about how patiently we can play. We knew that it would be difficult for the new batsmen to play on this wicket,' Suthar said. This collective clarity among the spin trio proved decisive as Sri Lanka's batting line-up struggled to build partnerships in the second innings.
Team win above personal milestones
Despite the historic personal achievement, Suthar was quick to frame the result in team terms. 'The most important thing is that we won the match. That is the most important thing. I am very happy that I was able to perform in the team's victory. Winning is the best thing,' he said.
He also underlined the importance of starting a series on the front foot. 'You get momentum when you start this series. You get a good rhythm. You get momentum as a team. It helps a lot,' Suthar noted. India will look to carry that momentum into the second Test, beginning 23 August at the same venue.
Point of View
And most domestic players rarely encounter it. If India is serious about building a deeper spin bench for Asian away tours, Suthar's self-driven preparation model deserves to be institutionalised, not left to individual initiative. The BCCI's decision to send the squad ten days early also quietly paid off — a logistical call that rarely gets credit but clearly shaped this result.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many wickets did Manav Suthar take in the Galle Test?
Manav Suthar took 10 wickets in the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle, finishing with match figures of 10 for 101. His second-innings spell of 6 for 55 was the decisive contribution as India won by 165 runs.
What was Manav Suthar's secret preparation for the Sri Lanka series?
Suthar practised extensively with the Kookaburra ball — both in the nets and at home — after India's match against Afghanistan, specifically to adapt to the ball used in Sri Lanka. He also benefited from arriving in Sri Lanka ten days before the Test.
Why did Suthar, Jadeja, and Kuldeep stress patience in Galle?
The three spinners discussed the importance of bowling patiently because the Galle pitch made it difficult for new batters to settle. Trusting the surface and maintaining discipline allowed them to exploit conditions rather than force wickets.
What is the result of the first India vs Sri Lanka Test 2025?
India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at the Galle International Stadium, taking a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. Manav Suthar's 10-wicket haul was the standout performance of the match.
When is the second India vs Sri Lanka Test 2025?
The second Test between India and Sri Lanka is scheduled to begin on 23 August 2025, also at the Galle International Stadium.
