IND vs SL: There is ongoing discussion about how the Indian team will tackle Sri Lanka's spin attack during the Test series. This concern is valid, given that most Indian batsmen have not played Test cricket in Sri Lanka. Furthermore, the Indian batting lineup's recent struggles against spin bowling are also a cause for concern. However, there is another side to the story
How will the Sri Lankan batsmen themselves face India's spinners? This is particularly significant because Team India has a spinner named Manav Suthar, whose bowling style is very similar to that of Prabath Jayasuriya.
When Team India takes the field at the Galle Cricket Ground for the first match of this series, it is all but certain that Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, and Manav Suthar will spearhead the spin attack.
However, while Ravindra Jadeja (with his experience) and Kuldeep Yadav (with his proven ability) will be key assets for the team, young spinner Manav Suthar could well prove to be the most impactful of the lot.
Why will Manav Suthar be crucial?
This is not merely a casual prediction but the opinion of former Sri Lankan all-rounder Farveez Maharoof, who has played on these grounds for years. The reason lies in Suthar's ability to extract bounce from his deliveries.
In an interview, Maharoof said, "I think India will field three spinners Jadeja, Kuldeep, and either Suthar or Saransh Jain. Ideally, there should be an off-spinner, but I wouldn't be surprised at all if Suthar plays, because he has the ability to get bounce off the pitch, and that could prove very useful in Galle."
Attributes similar to Jayasuriya
Maharoof noted that on Sri Lankan pitches, spinners often prove effective due to bounce rather than turn. This is a key factor that could allow Manav Suthar to replicate the kind of impact Prabath Jayasuriya has for Sri Lanka. Notably, Prabath is also a tall, left-arm finger spinner.
He has claimed 81 wickets at the Galle venue, with the bounce he generates playing a major role in his success. Suthar who has played just one Test match shares these traits with Prabath; he is taller than the other two Indian spinners and, like Prabath, extracts bounce while bowling left-arm spin. It now remains to be seen whether he can adapt to the conditions in Galle.
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