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India secured a massive win over Afghanistan in the one-off Test match by an innings and 300 runs at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on Monday, June 8 securing the game in just three days. India's debutant, Manav Suthar won the Player of the Match award for his phenomenal performance against the Afghani side.
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Manav Suthar opens up on his dream debut?
While receiving the Player of the Match award, Suthar revealed his experience to represent India for the very first time, he revealed that it was an unreal feeling, as it was his longtime dream to play for the country in Test cricket. Talking further, Manav explained how his batting experience in the first innings helped him understand the pitch in a better way.
Also Read: India script history with biggest-ever Test win, crush Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs
"It was a very unreal feeling. It has been my dream from the very beginning to play for India and to play Test cricket. So it was an incredible moment for me, and I honestly felt quite unreal. Even when I went out to bat, I felt quite comfortable. As I settled in and faced a few deliveries, I realised there was a bit of assistance for the spinners on the wicket. Then, when I came on to bowl and delivered my first over, I got the same feeling. After that, my only focus was to keep using the right line, length and pace ," Suthar said.
While opening up on his bowling plans, Suthar explained that he tried to rely on his stock deliveries as much as possible before getting a proper understanding of the wicket which happened to be slow in nature.
“Yes, initially my focus was on understanding how the wicket was playing. That's why I wanted to rely on my stock delivery as much as possible. Once I understood that the wicket was a little slow and required some variation in pace, I started making those adjustments. But the main idea was always to make my stock ball as effective as possible,” he added.
Suthar opened up on the biggest lesson he learned while playing his debut International game was to bowl in the similar areas as much as possible, which is very important in Test cricket.
"The biggest lesson is that consistency is everything. You have to keep bowling in the same area over and over again. I think that's the most important thing in Test cricket. It's a format that demands a lot of patience. That's what I've learned -- keep being patient, stick to your plans and keep hitting the right areas consistently," he explained.
How did Manav Suthar perform in the Test match against Afghanistan?
Manav Suthar enjoyed a historic Test debut for India, securing the Player of the Match award after clinching a six-wicket haul in the first innings against Afghanistan, where he took key wickets of opener Abdul Malik, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Rahmat Shah and skipper Hashmatullah Shah. Overall, he finished the game by taking seven wickets by giving 62 runs across two innings.
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