Left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder Manav Suthar made his international debut in the one-off India vs Afghanistan Test at Mullanpur, and the 23-year-old from Rajasthan has revealed that his sister was the first to break the news of his selection — before he could even confirm it himself. The moment, he said, was one he cannot put into words.

The Call That Changed Everything

'I was in my room when my sister called me. Maybe she was watching the squad announcement event. She told me that my name had come up in the Indian team. I asked her if it was official. She said yes, it's official. She was the first one to call me,' Suthar told JioStar.

What followed was a cascade of calls from family. 'Everyone was emotional when I got the call. Dad, mom, everyone called me. They couldn't believe it. I can't describe it in words. It's the biggest feeling. You work hard for years, and then you finally get selected for India. It's the best feeling. The best feeling of my life,' he said.

A Journey Rooted in Street Cricket

Suthar traced his love for the game back to childhood. 'Cricket has always been a big part of my family. My father loves the game, and everyone at home watches matches regularly. As a young boy, I used to sit with them and watch. That is where my love for cricket first started,' he said. He began playing in the streets before joining a formal cricket academy at the age of 10 or 11, training under coaches Dheeraj sir and Vinod sir.

His first significant milestone came when he represented Rajasthan in the Under-14 category. 'That experience gave me a lot of motivation. I realized that I could make a career out of this sport. From there, my journey as a cricketer truly began,' he said.

Overcoming Doubt and Domestic Grind

The path was far from straightforward. 'In a country like India, with such a huge population, succeeding in cricket is never easy. There are so many talented players competing for the same few spots. Many people told me to focus on my studies. They said cricket had no scope and that I was wasting my time. But I didn't listen. I didn't give up,' Suthar said.

His persistence paid off on the domestic circuit. Across 29 first-class matches, Suthar has claimed 129 wickets, cementing his reputation as one of India's most promising young spinners. He has also appeared in 25 List-A matches and 29 T20 games. His IPL journey with Gujarat Titans — under red-ball skipper Shubman Gill — saw him play four games in IPL 2026 after a single appearance in 2024 and no games in 2025.

Historic Debut and the Cap from Kuldeep

Suthar received his Test cap from senior spinner Kuldeep Yadav, making him India's first specialist spin-bowling Test debutant since Axar Patel in 2021 — a notable distinction that underscores the selectors' confidence in his craft. 'Now, all the hard work in domestic cricket and for India A has paid off. I am in the playing XI for the Afghanistan Test, making my international debut. It is a dream come true,' he said.

Role Models and What Drives Him

Suthar counts Yuvraj Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin among his biggest inspirations. 'The way they bowled, the variety they had in their bowling, and how they adapted to Test cricket, ODIs, and T20s — that inspires me a lot. They are my role models,' he said. His ability to generate sharp turn and extract bite from the surface has already drawn praise from cricketing experts ahead of his debut.

With his first Test cap secured and family pride at an all-time high, Suthar now turns his focus to performing for India on the biggest stage of his career.