TimesofIndia.com in Galle: In times when variation, mystery and darts have become the survival norm, Manav Suthar is a throwback to an era gone by. The beats and drops of techno music have captured the imagination around the world, but Suthar continues to be the classic which never gets old - come for the tone, enjoy the verse and stay for the ending. The ease with which he stands on top of the bowling mark, the grace with which he approaches the crease and the effortless magic of his wrist make him a rare breed. 'Kalai mai jaadu hai, alag ball chalta hai iske haath se (He has magic in his wrists. The ball spins viciously from his hand),' has been the unanimous observation of those who have seen him climb up the ladder in the last few years. Selectors were convinced at first sight, and since then his progression has been gradual, aiming not only to prepare for life after Ravindra Jadeja but also to secure an all-weather finger spinner.
As someone who made the great Bishan Singh Bedi take note of his classical left-arm spin, Maninder Singh's eyes light up when he talks about Suthar and his craft. It is as if the former India cricketer is playing his own visuals in the backdrop while explaining the nuances of left-arm spin and the attributes which set the youngster apart. "The first thing I notice in a spinner is how the ball comes out of the hand, and in his case, it comes out beautifully. His seam position is excellent. As they say, the seam should point towards first or second slip, and that's exactly what I saw. I watched him in the Test match [vs Afghanistan] and even in a couple of IPL games. I don't think he completed his full quota of overs in those matches, but even then I felt he was a delight to watch.
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"He has a beautiful future ahead. I believe he is going to play for India for a long time because I have not seen a classical left-arm spinner like him in a very long time," explains Maninder, one of the finest of his era. "His run-up is simple, his action is simple, and the release of the ball from his hand is beautiful. When a spinner releases the ball like that, it tells you he has put in countless hours in the nets. That hard work builds character, and you can see it when he bowls in a match," he adds.
'Revs on the ball' was a phrase which went out of currency with the advent of shorter formats and tweakers opting for darts over craft. Suthar, however, came as a breath of fresh air, reintroducing guile, deception and beating the batter in the air. Right from his domestic cricket days through the subsequent India A fixtures, close-in fielders have always been impressed by the sound the ball makes when it leaves Suthar's hand. The poetry isn't interrupted by a late jerk or twitch, and it all just flows like a smooth brush stroke on a canvas. "I have heard from fielders standing at silly point and short leg that they can actually hear the sound when the ball leaves his hand. That comes from the revolutions he imparts on the ball. When I say the ball comes beautifully out of his hand, it is because of those revolutions. His run-up, action and release all come together perfectly," Maninder further explains. Not just in India, the 'revs on the ball' also made a lot of noise in England, where Suthar joined Warwickshire to get a taste of County cricket and bowl with a different cricket ball. Head coach Ian Westwood was very pleased with his signing. Even though Suthar played just two games, they can't wait to have him back for more fixtures.
"He has all the ingredients to succeed in a competitive set-up like India's. The ball leaves very nicely from his hand, and the revolutions he imparts make him the kind of spinner who will succeed in every condition. He is a very smart operator. We only had him for a couple of games but he was well liked within the group," says Westwood.
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Days after making his Test debut against Afghanistan, Suthar boarded the long flight and turned up for the fixture against Yorkshire. The turnaround time between the two games was just three days, but it did not affect how he operated in the middle. The game against Afghanistan ended in Mullanpur on June 8, and Suthar took the field for Warwickshire in Scarborough on June 12. "I remember the turnaround time between his international assignment and County game was very short, but he arrived ready and made an impact. Apart from his bowling, Suthar made useful contributions lower down the order, which makes him an asset for any side. Bowling in England, with different conditions and a different ball helps a spinner's overall development and will hold him in good stead for his international assignments," adds Westwood.
The coaches who have worked closely with Suthar at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) have been very appreciative of his work ethic ever since VVS Laxman had asked a former cricketer to groom the left-armer. After minute technical adjustments, such as shortening the delivery stride, he was ready for the 'A' challenge and responded emphatically. Preparation has always been a focus for the 24-year-old, with no compromise on volume. The coaches assert that this work ethic helps him seamlessly make the adjustments and be battle-ready whenever opportunity comes his way.
Well before he left for Sri Lanka, Suthar visited the CoE to work on other finer nuances of spin bowling and returned with a pro tip. The wind in Galle can significantly affect how a spinner operates. "Use the breeze to your advantage. Whatever angle you bowl from, make sure the ball finishes on the stumps. Learn to use the drift according to the wind," was the advice he received before packing for the island nation. Maninder further explains how the revs will help create drift, and if he can master that art and use the wind to his advantage, Suthar will remove the pitch from the equation and become a banker for the side in any conditions. "Those revolutions create drift because the ball cuts through the air. That drift will always work to his advantage. As I said earlier, he is someone who can take wickets on any kind of surface. He doesn't need a turning pitch. Whether it is at home or overseas, he has the ability to pick up wickets. In the future, if India plays with only one spinner overseas, I believe he has the potential to become that bowler," says Maninder. Since arriving in Colombo in the first week of August, Suthar has looked very impressive in the net sessions, warm-up fixtures and the session in Galle. The magic in his wrist has even forced the think tank to consider fielding three spinners - even if all of them release from the hand. That's a rare instance in cricket, but so is Suthar. In a world of techno, he continues to make batters dance to classical tunes.