Consistency is everything – Manav Suthar on his POTM performance on Test debut

Manav Suthar had a dream start to his international journey, registering seven wickets in the one-off Test against Afghanistan in New Punjab. Suthar claimed six wickets in the first innings to leave Afghanistan hamstrung while adding another one to his match tally in the second innings.

Suthar walked away with the Player of the Match award for his sensational debut performance. Talking at the post-match presentation, Suthar opened up on the ‘unreal’ feeling of donning the Indian cap for the first time. He also shed some light on how batting ahead of showing his flair with the ball was a very good feeling.

Reflecting on his debut, Suthar said, “It was a very unreal feeling. It has been my dream from the very beginning to play for India and to play Test cricket. So it was an incredible moment for me and honestly felt quite unreal.”

Shedding light on the feeling of batting ahead of coming to bowl, Suthar added, “Even when I went out to bat, I felt quite comfortable. As I settled in and faced a few deliveries, I realized there was a bit of assistance for the spinners on the wicket. Then, when I came on to bowl and delivered my first over, I got the same feeling. After that, my only focus was to keep using the right line, length and pace.”

Decoding his ploy against Afghanistan, Suthar added, “Yes, initially my focus was on understanding how the wicket was playing. That's why I wanted to rely on my stock delivery as much as possible. Once I understood that the wicket was a little slow and required some variation in pace, I started making those adjustments. But the main idea was always to make my stock ball as effective as possible.”

Explaining the feeling of getting the new ball and the reviews that went against him, Suthar stated, “It's a matter of great pride. Being trusted with that responsibility means a lot. It was more of a heat-of-the-moment decision. From where I was standing, it looked absolutely plumb, so I felt it was worth taking the review.”

He concluded by highlighting his lessons from the game, adding, “The biggest lesson is that consistency is everything. You have to keep bowling in the same area over and over again. I think that's the most important thing in Test cricket. It's a format that demands a lot of patience. That's what I've learned - keep being patient, stick to your plans and keep hitting the right areas consistently.”