Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Manav Suthar has been urged to preserve his natural strengths as a red-ball bowler rather than allow the lure of the Indian Premier League to influence his game, with former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara insisting the young spinner should prioritise Test cricket.
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Suthar has made a stunning start to his Test career, claiming 17 wickets in his first two matches. His latest performance was particularly impressive, with the 24-year-old taking 10 wickets as India beat Sri Lanka by 165 runs in Galle on Wednesday.
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With his reputation growing rapidly, questions will inevitably follow about his prospects in white-ball cricket and the IPL. Pujara believes Suthar can play the shorter formats, but must not compromise the qualities that have made him so effective in Tests.
‘DON’T CHANGE YOUR STRENGTH’
Pujara highlighted how Suthar adapted his bowling during the second innings in Galle. As the pitch slowed down and the older ball offered less assistance, Suthar increased his pace and began bowling closer to 90 kilometres per hour.
“His pace changed in the second innings. The moment he realised that, when we are looking at his dismissals, the last three wickets which he picked, if you look at his pace, it was a lot quicker,” Pujara said.
“We realised that on a slow pitch, once the ball gets old, there’s not much help for the spinners. The batters are having a slightly easier time in the game. That’s why he changed his pace, and he was bowling at somewhere close to 90 kilometres an hour, which is not his strength.”
Pujara was particularly impressed by Suthar’s willingness to flight the ball and attack when conditions allowed.
“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 wants India to protect Suthar’s red-ball development even if IPL opportunities come his way.
“Try and preserve him. We have had this discussion in the past that, yes, all the young players might be wanting to play the shorter format, but India should be looking to preserve him for the Test format.”
“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.”
Pujara clarified that he was not against Suthar playing in the IPL, provided it did not alter his natural game.
“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.”
“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.”
SUTHAR SEALS VICTORY
Pujara’s comments came after Suthar produced a match-winning performance in Galle.
The spinner followed his four-wicket haul in the first innings with 6/55 in the second, completing a 10-wicket match haul as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 206.
Sri Lanka had resisted for much of the morning, with Dhananjaya de Silva and Sonal Dinusha adding 95 runs before Ravindra Jadeja broke the partnership. Prasidh Krishna then removed Niroshan Dickwella.
Suthar returned to rip through the lower order, dismissing Dinusha, Prabath Jayasuriya and Lahiru Kumara in six balls before bowling Keshara Nuwantha to seal India’s victory.
The win came in India’s 600th Test and gave them a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. The second Test begins in Colombo on August 23.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
