Pujara Urges Manav Suthar to Prioritize Test Cricket Over IPL Ambitions
Galle, Sri Lanka – Following a stellar performance that led India to a dominant victory over Sri Lanka, young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar has drawn significant praise and comparisons to seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. However, former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara has issued a heartfelt plea to the 24-year-old: focus on developing his red-ball game and resist the allure of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for now.
Suthar’s nascent Test career has been nothing short of sensational. After a promising five-wicket haul on debut against Afghanistan earlier this year in New Chandigarh, he delivered a match-winning 10-wicket performance in Galle, instrumental in securing India’s 165-run victory in the first Test and a 1-0 series lead. His six-wicket haul in Sri Lanka’s second innings highlighted his growing maturity and effectiveness in the longest format.
Pujara, a stalwart of Test cricket himself, emphasized the importance of safeguarding Suthar’s unique talent for red-ball cricket. Speaking on the Sony Sports Network, he urged both the player and the Indian team management to prioritize his development as a Test specialist. "Try to preserve him. We have had this discussion in the past that, yes, all the young players might want to play the shorter format, but India should be looking to preserve him for the Test format," Pujara stated.
While acknowledging Suthar’s potential desire to play in the IPL, Pujara cautioned him against altering his inherent strengths for the sake of white-ball cricket. "Yes, he might want to play the IPL, but don’t go there. I mean, yes, if he gets the opportunity to play the IPL, that’s fine, but don’t change your strength," he elaborated.
Pujara clarified that he isn’t advocating for Suthar to completely shun the IPL. He believes the spinner can participate if the opportunity arises, but crucially, without compromising the qualities that make him so effective in Tests. "I think he doesn’t need to change his bowling much. Just when it comes to white-ball cricket, you need to have that flatter trajectory, and I don’t mind him playing in the IPL. If he plays in the IPL, if he’s successful in the IPL, that is fine, but don’t change your strength," he added.
Suthar is currently contracted with Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans in the IPL, though his involvement in the tournament has been minimal. He has featured in only five matches across two seasons, taking a mere two wickets, with four appearances in the 2026 season and one in the 2024 edition. This limited exposure, in Pujara’s view, underscores the need for Suthar to focus on his primary strength.
Pujara highlighted Suthar’s natural ability to bowl slowly and impart significant flight on the ball as a key asset for Test cricket. "For someone like Manav Suthar, who is flighting the ball, who is willing to go a little slower, when it comes to red-ball cricket, you don’t need to change that. Don’t change yourself just for the IPL. I can understand, but don’t change your natural ability, which is to flight the ball," he emphasized.
The former India No. 3 also praised Suthar’s willingness to attack with flight even with a new ball, identifying it as a crucial factor in his recent success against Sri Lanka. "When you look at his bowling in the first innings and even while the ball was new, he was willing to flight the ball, put the ball in the right areas. The way he has bowled, I think India has found a proper left-arm spinner who will be there in the squad for a long time," Pujara concluded.
Suthar’s breakthrough performance in Galle was pivotal for India, ensuring a timely victory before impending rain could intervene on the fifth and final day. His partnership with Ravindra Jadeja secured valuable World Test Championship points for India, establishing a strong 1-0 lead in the two-match series. India will now look to complete a series whitewash when they face Sri Lanka in the second Test, scheduled to begin in Colombo on August 23.
