Left-arm spin bowler Manav Suthar, who recently earned his maiden India call-up for the one-off Test against Afghanistan, described his selection as a dream come true. The 23-year-old from Rajasthan credited his consistent performances in domestic cricket and experience with India A for his breakthrough.
Early Days and Inspiration
Suthar said his love for cricket began at home, watching matches with his family. "Cricket has always been a big part of my family. My father loves the game and everyone at home watches matches regularly. As a young boy, I used to sit with them and watch. That is where my love for cricket first started," he said on 'JioStar'. He started playing street cricket with friends, which taught him the basics. At age 10 or 11, he joined a proper academy under coaches Dheeraj and Vinod, who refined his technique.
Breakthrough and Challenges
His first big breakthrough came when he played for Rajasthan in the Under-14 category. "That experience gave me a lot of motivation. I realised that I could make a career out of this sport. From there, my journey as a cricketer truly began," Suthar said. He faced many obstacles, including people advising him to focus on studies. "In a country like India, with such a huge population, succeeding in cricket is never easy. There are so many talented players competing for the same few spots. I faced a lot of challenges along the way. Many people told me to focus on my studies. They said cricket had no scope and that I was wasting my time."
Despite the discouragement, Suthar persisted. "But I didn't listen. I didn't give up. I kept working hard, session after session, season after season. I had a great domestic season. I performed well for India A too. I knew the call could come anytime. It was a waiting game, but I stayed patient," he added.
Domestic Performance
Suthar has been a prolific wicket-taker since the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, where he took 39 wickets in six matches. He has been a regular in India Emerging and India A squads. In just three Ranji matches in 2025-26, he picked up 18 wickets, including a match-winning 8 for 42 against Chhattisgarh. Overall, he has taken 129 wickets in 29 first-class games, along with a century and six half-centuries. He made his IPL debut in 2024 with Gujarat Titans but played only one game that season. He did not get a chance in 2025 but featured in four games in 2026.
Dream Realised
"All the hard work in domestic cricket and for India A has paid off. Making my international debut, it is a dream come true. All the sacrifices have finally paid off. I feel proud, grateful and ready to give my best for the country," Suthar said. He added that his family was emotional when he got the news of his Test selection. "Dad, mom, everyone called me. They couldn't believe it. I can't describe it in words. It's the biggest feeling. You work hard for years, and then one day, you finally get selected for India. It was the best feeling of my life." Suthar cited former India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh and off-spinner R Ashwin as his inspirations.
