Pujara Urges Manav Suthar to Stay Focused on Test Cricket Despite IPL Attraction

Cheteshwar Pujara has urged Manav Suthar to keep his natural Test bowling strengths and resist the temptation to change his red-ball style for the IPL after the 24-year-old left-arm orthodox spinner won the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle on August 19.

Suthar, who represents Rajasthan, has taken 17 wickets in his first two Test matches. He joined Narendra Hirwani, Laxman Sivaramakrishnan, and Axar Patel as the only Indian bowlers to take ten wickets in their second Test.

He is also only the seventh Indian bowler to take ten wickets in an overseas Test, joining Ravichandran Ashwin, Bishan Singh Bedi, Erapalli Prasanna, Bhagwat Chandrasekhar, Anil Kumble, and Harbhajan Singh.

What did Pujara see about Suthar’s bowling in both innings?

Pujara saw that Suthar adjusted his strategy as the match conditions altered between the two innings in Galle. In the first innings, Suthar flighted the ball and attacked when the conditions were favourable.

Suthar increased his speed to roughly 90 kilometres per hour as the pitch slowed in the second innings and the older ball provided less assistance. Pujara also lauded Suthar’s performance when conditions were more favourable:

Why does Pujara want India to keep Suthar for Test cricket?

Pujara’s overarching concern is that the financial pressures of franchise cricket may cause Suthar to change the exact characteristics that make him dangerous in the longest format.

He urged Indian cricket to carefully consider how to manage spinners in the future. Suthar appeared four times for the Gujarat Titans in the 2026 IPL season.

The second Test of the series will begin on August 23 in Colombo, with India leading 1-0 following their triumph in Galle.