‘I wish he were English’: Graeme Swann calls India’s new Test spin sensation Manav Suthar ‘gold dust’ originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
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Graeme Swann called Manav Suthar “gold dust” after his seven-wicket Test debut against Afghanistan.
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Swann predicted Suthar will be a world-class spinner for 10 years for India and wished he were English.
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Suthar took 6/33 and 1/29 at Mullanpur, winning Player of the Match on his first Test appearance.
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Graeme Swann calls India’s new Test spin sensation Manav Suthar ‘gold dust’
Manav Suthar’s seven-wicket debut at Mullanpur generated widespread praise from the cricketing world, but Graeme Swann went further than most. The former England spinner did not merely acknowledge the performance; he placed the 23-year-old among the rarest bowlers in the game after watching fewer than two overs.
Suthar’s debut figures of 6/33 in the first innings and 1/29 in the second helped India win by an innings and 300 runs over Afghanistan. He also contributed 28 with the bat alongside Washington Sundar, underlining his credentials as a genuine all-around asset at the Test level.
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Swann, speaking exclusively to PTI, was emphatic in his delivery. He acknowledged that people might dismiss the assessment, given it was only Suthar’s first Test, but insisted that what he saw in those opening deliveries removed any doubt from his mind entirely.
Swann continues to be really impressed with Suthar’s spin bowling
“He is gold dust. I’m telling you this now. And I know people will get carried away saying he’s only played one Test. After he bowled about 10 balls, just watching his action, the way it came out of his hand, and everything. He is gold dust. He’s a world-class spinner and will be for 10 years. Just trust me on this. And I wish he were English,” Swann told PTI.
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Swann’s admiration was equally evident on Day 2 of the Test, when Suthar had already taken 3/21 in his opening spell. The former England off-spinner was particularly struck by his ability to recognize the turn available and immediately adjust his line to bowl straighter, a tactical shift that consistently created wicket-taking opportunities throughout the innings.
“Beyond the wickets, it was the awareness, composure, and consistency he displayed that stood out. For a debut performance, it was an exceptional exhibition of spin bowling,” Swann added.
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The Big Picture: Naming Suthar as Ravindra Jadeja’s Successor
Speaking separately on Star Sports, Swann went a step further and named Suthar as Ravindra Jadeja’s long-term Test replacement. The comparison is significant given Jadeja’s standing, and Swann addressed the one slight gap in Suthar’s case with characteristic directness.
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“He has come in and bowled very well. He may not be as good a batter as Jadeja is, but Suthar does have a first-class ton,” Swann said. With Jadeja hanging up his boots last year, India desperately needed someone to take care of the spin situation, and with Suthar already doing miracles, Indian fans can finally relax.
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