
The bowling all-rounder Manav Suthar was one of the star players behind Team India’s 165-run win in the first Test of the two-match series against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium on Wednesday, August 19.
On the final day of the Galle Test, the visitors bundled out the hosts for 206 in 77.4 overs while they were chasing a 372-run target, taking a 1-0 series lead before the second Test in Colombo, starting on August 23. Despite a resilient 95-run partnership between skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (59) and Sonal Dishun (84), Sri Lanka collapsed under the pressure of the Indian bowling attack.
Manav Suthar led India’s bowling attack with figures of 6/55 at an economy rate of 2.30 in his spell of 23.4 overs. Pacer Prasidh Krishna picked up two wickets while conceding just 16 at an economy rate of 1.6 in 10 overs. While veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja (1/71) and Mohammed Siraj (1/15) also chipped in with vital breakthroughs.
Also Read: India's 600th Test win: Gill lauds Suthar, the 'future torch-bearer'
Playing in his second Test after his debut in a one-off match against Afghanistan, where he picked up six wickets in the first innings, Manav Suthar continued his dream run in international cricket, baffling the Sri Lankan batters with his classical action, sharp turn, and impeccable control.
In the first innings, the 24-year-old led India’s bowling attack with four wickets while giving away 76 runs, helping the visitors bundle out the hosts for 284 in 79.4 overs, despite a 146-run partnership between Sonal Dinusha (100) and Niroshan Dickwell (80), and hand Team India the first-innings lead of 178.
In Sri Lanka’s run chase, Manav improved his heroics even further, weaving a web of spin to claim six wickets, including a crucial wicket of Sonal Dinusha. In the 76th over, Manav Suthar wreaked havoc by claiming three wickets in a sensational triple-wicket maiden, effectively ending any hopes of Sri Lankan resistance and setting up India's comprehensive 165-run victory.
Manav Suthar cleaned up the tail in a flash! ⚡
Three wickets in one over to put the finishing touches on a sensational bowling effort.
Watch #SLvIND, 1st Test | Day 5, LIVE NOW on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV… pic.twitter.com/LwSc4NGRW2— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 19, 2026
Manav Suthar has the final say! 👋
Keshara Nuwantha is his sixth victim as India wrap up the game and take the series opener.
Watch #SLvIND 2nd Test, starting 23rd August 9 AM onwards, LIVE on Sony Sports Network TV channels & Sony LIV.#SonySportsNetwork #SonyLIV… pic.twitter.com/q7o96FEOvB— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) August 19, 2026
Across both innings, Manav Suthar picked up 10 wickets while conceding 131 runs at an average of 13.10 and an economy rate of 2.88, writing his name into the record books with the best-ever match figures by an Indian bowler in Sri Lanka. He even contributed with the bat, especially in the first innings, where he scored 24 off 43 balls and formed a 55-run stand for the seventh wicket.
Manav Suthar’s figures of 10/131 are his best Test bowling figures and marked his maiden 10-wicket haul in his international career.
Manav Suthar’s 10-wicket haul, including a match-winning six-wicket haul, has sparked massive reactions on social media, especially on X (formerly Twitter), with fans and cricket enthusiasts backing the 24-year-old as India’s next big spin sensation.
Taking to their X handles, many fans hailed Suthar’s match-winning performance and backed him to become a long-term successor to Ravindra Jadeja, while others praised his classical bowling style, accuracy, turn and ability to deceive batters, with some even predicting a long and successful Test career for the young spinner.
However, some believe that Manav Suthar could be India’s X-factor in next year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against Australia at home, with one fan backing the young spinner to play a crucial role for Shubman Gill’s side in the marquee series.
Manav Suthar ! Just Waoooooooooooooooo!
After so long a pure magical talent in Indian team!
You can't deny the fact that he has outperformed other bowlers and with his skillset he is there for Indian cricket for long.#indvssl #manavsuthar #indvsl pic.twitter.com/CFqip6eTvj— Sunil Gavaskar (@virender_swag) August 19, 2026
I'm banking on Manav Suthar to do What Jadeja the bowler did for India in Asian pitches atleast for the next 5 Years.
He's a gem we need to use every bit of him pic.twitter.com/a1NJgGgBrG— Vishhh (@vitaminkohli) August 19, 2026
10 wkt haul in match baton is been passed from Ashwin to suthar https://t.co/SnmVsLlTLu
— Sportsnerd (@Cricnerd293) August 19, 2026
Manav Suthar looks like a serious talent. 🔥🏏
India may have found the next left-arm spinner in line after Jadeja.
Sir Jadeja retirement plan: "Not so fast." 😂— PiQ: Daily workout for brain (@DarvaxFollower) August 19, 2026
Manav Suthar continues to build on his debut. He has been a treat to watch with old school spin bowling. Classical action, flight, deception, turn , accuracy. He is displaying every skill that you want to see from a spinner. What a find. https://t.co/xOc1GmYyPY
— IamArjav (@IamArjav) August 19, 2026
Manav Suthar is a timely find for India. Considering he is just 24, I predict him to end his career as one of India's top 3 wicket takers ever. He is ideal for long-term heir to Jaddu.
Though he too is a left arm spinner but unlike Jadeja’s darting, flat trajectory, Suthar…— Saurav Trivedi (@Auravauraa) August 17, 2026
3 WICKETS IN SINGLE OVER FOR MANAV SUTHAR 😍
He is going to be the X factor in BGT 2027 for Shubman Gill. pic.twitter.com/YXTrIVlldL— Ashwani Yadav (@AshwaniYady7) August 19, 2026
Manav Suthar killed the game in just 1 over with 3 wickets in it to complete his fifer. A great win for team India.
Finally, we have a spinner who can take wickets after Jadeja-Ashwin pair. Would love to see Saransh Jain in 2nd test in place of Kuldeep Yadav as we also need an… pic.twitter.com/SoV3c3ZMjd— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) August 19, 2026
- 2 Tests.
- 17 Wickets.
- 11.35 Average.
- 2.5 Economy.
- 2 Five wicket hauls.
- 1 Ten wicket haul.
- 6/55 Best.
MANAV SUTHAR IS HERE TO RULE IN TEST CRICKET FOR INDIA. 🇮🇳🔥 pic.twitter.com/48r5wsQb50— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) August 19, 2026
What a fine young cricketer this Manav Suthar is. Possessed of all the skills that make spin bowling an enthralling sight. In an era of bowlers seeking to ping it into the pads, he goes up and over in such a classical style. I look forward to seeing a lot more
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 19, 2026
Wah Manav!
To pick 10 wickets in a Test is a great achievement.
Manav Suthar in his second and Devdutt Padikkal in his third Test are the biggest gain of Indian cricket. #IndvsSL— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) August 19, 2026
Can Manav Suthar be the answer to India’s transition from Ashwin and Jadeja?
Too early to say but the start is promising. pic.twitter.com/2A3zHK7R5s— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) August 19, 2026
In his Test career so far, Manav Suthar has picked up 17 wickets, including two six-wicket hauls, at an average of 11.35 and an economy rate of 2.49 in four innings across two matches.
Also Read: KL Rahul praises Galle pitch after India's 165-run win over Sri Lanka