Manav Suthar has created history with his brilliant 10-wicket haul against Sri Lanka at Galle. The 24-year-old spinner produced one of the best performances of his young career as India registered an emphatic 165-run victory in the first Test.
Suthar finished the match with figures of 10/131, taking 4/76 in the first innings before producing an excellent 6/55 in the second. Manav Suthar 10-wicket haul also helped India take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.
India had set Sri Lanka a target of 372 runs in the fourth innings. The hosts were eventually bowled out for 206, with Suthar doing most of the damage.
Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar Star for India
Devdutt Padikkal and Manav Suthar were the two standout performers for India in the match.
Padikkal played a brilliant knock of 167 in the first innings and helped India post 462. His innings gave the Indian bowlers a strong platform to work with, and he was eventually named Player of the Match.
However, when it came to bowling, Suthar was too good for the Sri Lankan batters.
The young left-arm spinner picked up four wickets in Sri Lanka’s first innings before adding six more in the second. His spell on the final day ensured that Sri Lanka could not take the game deep despite resistance from their middle order.
Manav Suthar 10-Wicket Haul Creates a New Indian Record
The Manav Suthar 10-wicket haul becomes even more special when we look at India’s rich history of spin bowling.
Indian cricket has produced legendary spinners like Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bishan Singh Bedi and Bhagwat Chandrasekhar.
Suthar has now put his name alongside some of those greats with his performance in Galle.
Harbhajan Singh had taken 10/153 against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2008, while Ashwin produced 10/160 at the same venue in 2015.
Suthar has now gone past both of them in terms of match figures in Sri Lanka.
His 10/131 are the best match bowling figures by an Indian in a Test in Sri Lanka. He is also only the third Indian bowler after Harbhajan and Ashwin to claim a 10-wicket match haul in the country.
For a 24-year-old playing only his second Test, it is a huge achievement.
Youngest Indian Spinners With 10 Wickets Haul In A Away Match
Several legendary Indian spinners have produced 10-wicket match hauls away from home, but Suthar has become the youngest Indian spinner to take a 10-wicket haul in an away Test.
Harbhajan Singh returned figures of 10/153 against Sri Lanka at Galle in 2008 at the age of 28 years and 31 days, while Ravichandran Ashwin took 10/160 at the same venue in 2015 at the age of 28 years and 11 months.
Going further back, Bishan Singh Bedi claimed 10/194 against Australia at Perth during the 1977-78 tour at the age of 31 years and three months.
Bhagwat Chandrasekhar produced an even bigger performance during the same series, taking 12/104 against Australia at Melbourne at the age of 32 years and seven months.
Suthar, however, tops the list after taking 10/131 against Sri Lanka at Galle at the age of just 24.
For a 24-year-old playing only his second Test, it is a special achievement and an excellent start to his international career.
🚨 MANAV SUTHAR CREATED HISTORY 🚨
Manav Suthar becomes the youngest Indian spinner ever to pick 10 wicket haul in away in Test History 🏏 pic.twitter.com/7xTgUlli4X
— CricInformer (@CricInformer) August 19, 2026
Has India Found Another Long-Term Spin Option?
The most exciting thing for India is Suthar’s age.
After the retirement of Ravichandran Ashwin, India have been looking for young spin bowlers who can serve the Test team for a long time.
Ravindra Jadeja remains an experienced option, while India also have other quality spinners. However, Suthar’s early performances show that India have another bowler who can become an important part of their Test plans.
Performing in Asian conditions is one thing, but taking 10 wickets in an away Test at just 24 years of age shows his potential.
Galle has traditionally provided plenty of assistance to spinners, but taking advantage of such conditions still requires accuracy, patience and skill. Suthar showed all three during this Test.
His 6/55 in the final innings was particularly impressive as India needed wickets to finish the match.
A Special Start to Manav Suthar’s Test Career
It is still very early in Suthar’s international career, and it would be unfair to compare him directly with legends like Ashwin, Harbhajan or Kumble.
Those players proved themselves over long Test careers and won numerous matches for India.
However, records like this show the kind of potential Suthar possesses.
The Manav Suthar 10-wicket haul in Galle has given India another reason to be excited about their spin-bowling future. At just 24, he has already put his name alongside some of the finest spinners Indian cricket has produced.
If he continues to develop with experience, India may have found a spinner who can serve the Test team for many years.
