Manav Suthar has made Indian Test history with a stunning performance in Galle, becoming the first Indian spinner and only the second Indian cricketer to claim a five-wicket haul in both his first home and first away Tests.

Suthar’s breakthrough in Galle

The 24-year-old Rajasthan spinner finished the Test with outstanding match figures of 10 for 131 from 54.2 overs as India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs. After taking four wickets for 76 runs in Sri Lanka’s first innings, Suthar produced the decisive spell in the second innings, claiming six wickets for 55 runs.

The six-wicket haul made Suthar only the third Indian bowler to take six wickets in a Test innings in Sri Lanka, following Ravichandran Ashwin and Harbhajan Singh. He also became the youngest Indian to record a 10-wicket haul in a Test match.

Historic feat last achieved by Mohammad Nisar

Suthar’s achievement has placed him alongside Mohammad Nisar, who was the first Indian to complete the rare double. Nisar took five wickets on his Test debut against England at Lord’s in 1932 and followed it with another five-wicket haul in his first home Test against England in Mumbai in 1933.

For 94 years, no other Indian had matched Nisar’s accomplishment. Suthar has now joined him in that exclusive record book.

New Indian bowling record in Sri Lanka

Suthar’s 10-wicket match haul also surpassed Harbhajan Singh’s previous record for the best bowling figures by an Indian in a Test played in Sri Lanka. Harbhajan had taken 10 for 153 in Galle during the 2008 Test, while Suthar bettered that mark with 10 for 131.

He is now the third Indian after Harbhajan Singh and Ravichandran Ashwin to take 10 wickets in a Test in Sri Lanka. The overall record for a visiting bowler remains with South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj, who claimed 12 for 283 against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2018.

Having already made an impact on his Test debut against Afghanistan, Suthar’s performance in Galle represents a major step forward in what is quickly becoming a remarkable international career.