Shubman Gill Supports Manav Suthar as India Prepares for Historic Test Series
India's Test Series Against Sri Lanka Begins
Galle [Sri Lanka], August 14: Shubman Gill, the captain of India's Test team, has expressed confidence in young all-rounder Manav Suthar to step into the No. 8 batting position, especially with the absence of regular all-rounders. Gill believes that Suthar, a left-arm spinner, has the potential to evolve into a strong batsman in Test cricket.
India is set to kick off a two-match Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle on Saturday, which also marks the milestone of the country's 600th Test match.
Gill noted that the team has opted for a more specialized lineup for this series, but he is optimistic that Suthar's batting skills will provide the necessary balance.
He stated, "Manav Suthar is crucial for us. He possesses batting talent and has shown he can perform. At this level, gaining experience, confidence, and belief is essential, and that comes from playing and scoring runs. I hope he shines in this series. His bowling skills are impressive, and he has the potential to be an excellent No. 8 batsman."
The Indian squad is missing some key players, including star fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who is out due to a recurring knee issue, and batter Sai Sudharsan, who is sidelined with a toe injury.
Despite these setbacks, Gill reassured that the team's spirit remains high and he trusts the 15-member squad to perform well.
"We are in constant communication with the injured players. Sai's situation was unfortunate; we had hoped he would be fit for the series, but despite ongoing assessments, he wasn't improving as expected. In Test matches, you can't afford to take risks like you might in shorter formats. While we are disappointed, it hasn't dampened our morale. I believe in the capabilities of our squad and whoever plays will be able to win in any conditions," he explained.
Auqib Nabi has been brought in to replace Bumrah, while Sarfaraz Khan has stepped in for Sudharsan.
Gill also mentioned that KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, the only players from the current squad who participated in India's last Test series in Sri Lanka back in 2017, have shared valuable insights with the team.
"They discuss their experiences and how the game unfolded. Understanding the flow of the game at different venues is crucial, and their insights have been beneficial," he added.
The captain is also faced with a selection challenge between tall pacer Gurnoor Brar and Prasidh Krishna, with Mohammed Siraj likely to be the other fast bowler in the playing XI.
"Choosing between Gurnoor and Prasidh is tough; both are talented bowlers who performed well in practice. Gurnoor's height gives him an advantage with pace and bounce, while Prasidh has been bowling exceptionally well lately. It's going to be a difficult decision," Gill remarked.
This series is vital for India's World Test Championship 2025-27 campaign, with India currently positioned fifth and Sri Lanka sixth in the standings.
India Test Squad: Shubman Gill (c), KL Rahul (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rishabh Pant (wk), Dhruv Jurel (wk), Devdutt Padikkal, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Manav Suthar, Saransh Jain, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Gurnoor Brar, Auqib Nabi, Sarfaraz Khan.
Sri Lanka Test Squad: Dhananjaya De Silva (captain), Lahiru Udara, Nishan Madushka, Kamindu Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Sonal Dinusha, Niroshan Dickwella, Ramesh Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya, Keshara Nuwantha, Milan Rathnayake, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Vishwa Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.