Suthar picked 10 wickets in India's test win in Galle, while Jadeja picked 4 wickets in all.
Ravindra Jadeja had done well in the Sri Lanka first innings, taking three wickets, while he managed only one scalp in the second innings. With the bat, Jadeja made 13 and 9 runs.
Reviewing the Indian team’s performance, Ashwin stated that his longtime bowling partner Ravindra Jadeja is no longer the opposition batters' primary attacking threat. Manav Suthar, who became the youngest Indian bowler to take ten wickets in a Test away from home, might have taken over.
The 37-year-old Jadeja has evolved from a lead attacking spinner to a reliable middle-order batsman who can contribute ball experience, according to Ashwin.
“Jadeja and Suthar are completely different bowlers. Suthar’s strength is the ball rotation in his hands. Jadeja will bowl to the wickets and give you control with his stock balls. I feel Jadeja is not that attacking spinner anymore. He is a batter who will give experience with the ball, and I feel he has transitioned to that role, which is not such a bad thing,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
On the other hand, the 24-year-old Suthar received rich praise from Ashwin. Suthar now has 17 wickets in just two Tests, having made his India Test debut against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh.
“Manav Suthar, in the previous Test and this one as well, is putting his hands up and saying he also knows how to pick wickets. He was gauging what the batters might do and bowling accordingly. I feel as far as wicket-taking is concerned, there is no connection to how the ball comes off the hand. How you utilize it and set fields—that's what matters. He has given a great account of his skills in the first two Tests. He is very important to India’s spin bowling stocks,” Ashwin said.
While he credited India’s all-round performance, Ashwin said Suthar grabbed the spotlight with his match-winning spells.
“433 is the average first-innings score at Galle. When India won the toss and put 450-plus on the board, everyone knew at that moment that it was going to be difficult for Sri Lanka. But I feel Sri Lanka played very well and gave a good fight for a young side. Devdutt Padikkal was incredible. Dhruv Jurel played well. Rishabh Pant played a superb knock in the second innings. Standard batting from KL Rahul. Manav Suthar was the highlight; everyone is going to talk about him,” added Ashwin.
The second test will be played in Colombo’s SSC Ground from August 23 onwards.