Manav Suthar had the most big-turn deliveries in the opening Test match against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium, with 74% of his balls spinning more than 4.5 degrees. The 24-year-old left-arm spinner dismissed Sri Lanka for 284 in their opening innings with 4/76 in 21.4 overs.
The attack was notable for Suthar’s 74% big-turn rate. Keshara Nuwantha of Sri Lanka has 60.4%, Ravindra Jadeja has 58.2%, and Kuldeep Yadav has 50%. Sonal Dinusha had 33.3%, Prabath Jayasuriya 22.2%, and Dhananjaya de Silva 12.5%.
India scored 462 runs in the first innings to take a 178-run advantage. The Galle game is scheduled for August 15–19, 2026.
“After the Afghanistan Test, I was using the Kookaburra ball for practice. According to Suthar, who was cited by the Times of India, “My plan was pretty simple to bowl in good areas, right length, and right speed because the wicket here offers some bounce which makes it mandatory to bowl at the right line.”
“Our main focus was to get wickets in the first session.” In the third session, we achieved success despite not taking any wickets in the second. Thus, we concentrated on continuing to bowl regularly in favourable locations. Dinusha and Dickwella, the SL hitters, were doing a good job of rotating the strike. Thus, we had to make appropriate plans.
Therefore, we concentrated on finding the ideal bowling tempo for this wicket and how to create opportunities by bowling stump to stump line. Getting a wicket on the first ball is a great sensation. “I was also playing in the County cricket (for Warwickshire), and it gives you a lot of confidence throughout the game,” he continued.
Do you know how Suthar planned to take four wickets?
In Sri Lanka’s opening innings, Suthar removed Dinesh Chandimal with his first ball. He threw over half of his deliveries in the 4-5 metre length zone, which produced all four of his wickets. He explained the team’s bowling plan for each session. From first-ball wickets, Suthar also conveyed confidence.
What did Jadeja’s milestone and Sri Lanka’s lower-order resistance mean for the game?
With three wickets in Sri Lanka’s opening innings, Jadeja reached 350 Test wickets. Sonal Dinusha, who made his first Test century, and Niroshan Dickwella, who scored 80, led Sri Lanka’s lower order to 146 runs in the sixth wicket stand despite the efforts of the Indian spinners. “There are a lot of things that I can learn from him,” stated Suthar, expressing his desire to learn from Jadeja.
He makes excellent use of the (bowling) crease. He bowls at stumps with world-class consistency. Therefore, regardless of what the batsman is doing, I would like to learn from him. How much time may I spend bowling on the stump? Is it possible to receive a false shot? Thus, he has a lot to teach us,” Suthar remarked.
