NEW DELHI: It was nothing short of a dream debut for Manav Suthar as the young left-arm spinner made an immediate impact for India on Day 2 of the one-off Test against Afghanistan at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
Captain Gill Hands Debutant the Ball
Captain Shubman Gill tossed the red cherry to Suthar just before the tea on Day 2 and handed the debutant his first spell in Test cricket. The 23-year-old didn't take long to make his mark.
On the fourth ball of his Test career, Suthar struck. Abdul Malik attempted a sweep but could only manage a top edge, with Mohammed Siraj diving forward from backward square leg to complete a sharp catch. The wicket sparked jubilant celebrations as Suthar claimed his maiden Test scalp. Teammates rushed in with hugs and high-fives, while the spinner soaked in a moment he will cherish forever.
A Historic Breakthrough
The breakthrough was not just memorable - it was historic. By striking in the very first over of his Test career, Suthar became only the eighth Indian cricketer to take a wicket in the first over of his debut Test match. Remarkably, he joined a list that stretches back nearly eight decades and features just seven other names in Indian cricket history. The exclusive club includes Montu Banerjee (vs West Indies, 1948), Manohar Hardikar (vs West Indies, 1958), Vaman Kumar (vs Pakistan, 1961), Chetan Sharma (vs Pakistan, 1984), WV Raman (vs West Indies, 1988), Nilesh Kulkarni (vs Sri Lanka, 1997) and Tinu Yohannan (vs England, 2001).
What makes Suthar's feat even more special is that no Indian had achieved the milestone for 25 years since Yohannan dismissed Marcus Trescothick in the opening over of his debut against England in 2001.
Selection Justified
Selected ahead of fellow spin-bowling all-rounder Harsh Dubey, Suthar justified the team management's faith almost instantly. Before the match, he received Test cap No. 319 from senior spinner Kuldeep Yadav, becoming India's first specialist spin-bowling Test debutant since Axar Patel made his debut in 2021.
List of Indians to Take a Wicket in Their First Over in Men's Tests
- Montu Banerjee vs West Indies, 1948
- Manohar Hardikar vs West Indies, 1958
- Vaman Kumar vs Pakistan, 1961
- Chetan Sharma vs Pakistan, 1984
- WV Raman vs West Indies, 1988
- Nilesh Kulkarni vs Sri Lanka, 1997
- Tinu Yohannan vs England, 2001
- Manav Suthar vs Afghanistan, 2026
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