‘Magnificent’ Manav Suthar can serve India for a long time, says Shubman Gill

India captain Shubman Gill praised the exceptional performance of left-arm spinner Manav Suthar after his team secured a 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test in Galle. Gill noted that Suthar, who took 10 wickets in the match, has the potential to serve Indian cricket for a long time. The 24-year-old bowler had previously taken 4/76 in the first innings, and his impressive 6/55 in the second innings led to a match figure of 10/131.

Suthar had also become the youngest Indian to take a 10-wicket haul in an away Test, making his performance truly "magnificent." Gill also commended Devdutt Padikkal, who was named Player of the Match after scoring 167 in the first innings and 44 in the second. Padikkal's composure and dominant batting in both innings were particularly impressive, as he overcame being drafted into the No. 3 position following Sai Sudharsan's injury.

Gill highlighted the favorable conditions on the Galle wicket, which favored left-handed batsmen, allowing them to negate the left-arm spinners' effectiveness. The win earned India 12 crucial World Test Championship points and provided some relief from the pressure, despite the team remaining fifth in the standings. Gill emphasized that India's ultimate goal remains the WTC final, as Test wins are challenging to come by.

Despite a second-innings collapse to 193, Gill remained unfazed, stating that the team responded well and was focused on reaching a declaration-style target around 400 in the third innings.