Suthar claimed four wickets in Sri Lanka's first innings of the Galle Test.
Manav Suthar's superb 4 for 76 spell on Monday (August 17) propelled India to a commanding 178-run first-innings lead over Sri Lanka on Day 3 of the opening Test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
The young left-arm spinner made an immediate, spectacular impact by dismissing veteran batter Dinesh Chandimal with his very first ball in overseas Test cricket. He later wrapped up the host's innings by getting Lahiru Kumara stumped.
After the day’s play, Suthar attributed his readiness to a 10-day pre-series training stint at the BCCI Centre of Excellence, where he specifically simulated Galle conditions and practiced with the Kookaburra ball.
"I was practising with the Kookaburra ball after the Afghanistan Test. So, my plan was pretty simple to bowl in good areas, right length, right speed as the wicket here offers some bounce too which makes it mandatory to bowl at the right line," Suthar told reporters.
India bowled out Sri Lanka for 284 after positing 462 in their first innings. The visitors had Sri Lanka reeling at 90/5 at one stage, but the hosts staged a fightback, thanks to a 146-run stand between left-handers Niroshan Dickwella (80) and Sonal Dinusha (100).
Suthar said the key was to remain patient and keep bowling in the right areas repeatedly. "Our main focus was to get wickets in the first session. We didn't get wickets in the second session but we got results in the third session. So, our focus was to keep bowling consistently in good areas."
"They (SL batters Dinusha and Dickwella) were rotating the strike well. So, we needed to plan accordingly. So, our focus was on how we can create opportunities by bowling stump to stump line and find the right pace to bowl for this wicket," he stated.
Bowling in tandem with veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja—who picked up 3 for 57 and celebrated his landmark 350th Test wicket during the match—offered Suthar invaluable real-time lessons on patience and crease variation.
"There are a lot of things that I can learn from him. He uses the (bowling) crease so well. His consistency while bowling at stumps is world class. So I would like to learn from him that no matter what the batsman is doing."
"How long can I bowl on the stump? Can you get a false shot? So there's a lot to learn from him," he noted.
The 24-year-old also noticed the way Lankan spinners bowled on this pitch for the first couple of days.
"They bowled well yesterday. They varied their pace and I feel that on this wicket, the more consistent you are, the more purchase you get. So that's what we were trying to do."
He removed Chandimal right away, setting a strong tone for his performance and gaining a major confidence boost.
"It's a very good feeling to get a wicket on the first ball. It gives you lots of confidence throughout the game, I was also playing in the County cricket (for Warwickshire)," he remarked.
(With PTI Inputs)