Shubman Gill praises Manav Suthar, highlighting his potential for a long-term contribution to Indian cricket.

In a remarkable display of skill, Indian captain Shubman Gill praised young spinner Manav Suthar following his outstanding performance that led India to a 165-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first Test held in Galle. Suthar, just 24 years old, achieved a match haul of 10 wickets, becoming the youngest Indian to accomplish this feat in an away Test. His impressive figures included 4 wickets for 76 runs in the first innings and 6 for 55 in the second, culminating in match figures of 10 for 126.

“He has been bowling magnificently. Looks like a very promising guy and someone who can play for India for a long time,” Gill remarked during the post-match presentation, highlighting Suthar's potential for the future of Indian cricket.

Gill also commended Devdutt Padikkal, who was awarded Player of the Match for his stellar contributions of 167 runs in the first innings and 44 in the second. Padikkal stepped into the No. 3 batting position after Sai Sudharsan was sidelined due to a toe injury. Gill noted, “He has been magnificent to watch. Important to get hundreds but even after getting a hundred, he got a big one. The way he batted and dominated in the second innings was great to watch.”

With a total of 211 runs in the match, Padikkal expressed that the Sri Lankan left-arm spinners did not significantly challenge him, attributing this to the Galle pitch, which offered limited assistance early on. “It was a bit of a slowish wicket, not providing a lot of bite, so left-handed batters were able to negate the left-arm spinners,” he explained after receiving his award. He acknowledged that the pitch began to deteriorate, providing more turn as the match progressed.

This victory not only secured India 12 vital points in the World Test Championship but also alleviated some pressure on the team, although they currently sit fifth in the standings with a percentage of 53.33. Gill emphasized that the ultimate goal remains reaching the WTC final, stating, “Test wins do not come easy, and this one is delightful.”

Despite concerns about the weather potentially interrupting the match, Gill expressed satisfaction with the outcome. “We were in a comfortable position, but were not sure if the match would go on because of the weather, but the team responded well,” he said. He remained unfazed by India’s second-innings collapse to 193, explaining that the team aimed for a lead of around 400 runs and was prepared to play aggressively given the uncertain conditions for the final days of play.