First Indian to win Player of the Match award on Test debut? Manav Suthar joins exclusive list

Manav Suthar made history on his Test debut as he produced a stellar performance for India during the one-off Test against Afghanistan at Mullanpur. Impressive in the domestic circuit, the Rajasthan all-rounder was called into the Indian side for the Test match as and Axar Patel were rested.

Suthar’s six wickets on his Test debut made him the toast of the town in no time. He impressed many with his control and spin in the first innings as he orchestrated Afghanistan's downfall. Suthar took 6/33 in his 22 overs and had the third-best figures by an Indian bowler on Test debut. His 6/33 came only behind the twin magical spells of Narendra Hirwani on debut against the West Indies in 1988 when he grabbed eight wickets each in both the innings.

Meanwhile, Suthar was named Player of the Match in the one-off Test as India won by an innings and 300 runs. The hosts bowled out Afghanistan for 152 in the first innings and asked them to follow on. In the second essay it was Washington Sundar and in starring roles as Afghans were bowled out for 112.

But Suthar was awarded the Player of the Match for his wonderful performance in the first innings. He has entered the elusive list of Indian players to have won the Man of the Match award on debut.

Suthar is the 9th Indian to win the Player of the Match Award on Test debut, joining the likes of & Ravichandran Ashwin amongst others.

1992 – Pravin Amre

2006-RP Singh

2011 – Ravi Ashwin

2013 -

2013 – Rohit Sharma

2018 -

2021- Shreyas Iyer

Yashasvi Jaiswal - 2023

2026 - Manav Suthar

Suthar said he was happy with his six-wicket haul in the first innings. Rajasthan all-rounder got to experience the surface first hand when he batted in the first innings and then tried his hand with the red cherry. (Did batting before bowling help settle his nerves?) No. Actually I was pretty comfortable when I stepped up to the plate. I was preparing and looking to face a few deliveries and I saw that there was a little bit of help for the spinners on the wicket. Then when I came on to bowl and bowled my first over I got the same feeling. ' After that, I just tried to keep using the right line, length and pace,” he said after the match.

Suthar's spin troubled the Afghan batters who did not had answers to his bowling. "Yes at the start I was trying to work out how the wicket was playing. That's why I wanted to depend on my stock delivery as much as possible. “I started doing that when I realized the wicket was a bit slow and it needed a little bit of variation in pace. “But the main idea was always to get my stock ball as effective as possible, said Suthar.