Manav Suthar’s impressive start to his Test career has already sparked comparisons with Ravindra Jadeja, but former India batter Cheteshwar Pujara believes the young left-arm spinner should prioritise his red-ball development rather than chasing an Indian Premier League contract.Suthar has played only two Tests for India but has already made a significant impact. The 24-year-old followed up his five-wicket haul on debut against Afghanistan in New Chandigarh earlier this year with a match-winning 10-wicket performance in Galle.Suthar claimed six wickets in Sri Lanka’s second innings as India completed a 165-run victory in the first Test to take a 1-0 lead in the series.With the youngster showing strong potential in the longest format, Pujara urged both Suthar and the Indian management to protect his development as a red-ball specialist.“Try to preserve him. We have had this discussion in the past that, yes, all the young players might want to play the shorter format, but India should be looking to preserve him for the Test format. Yes, he might want to play the IPL, but don’t go there. I mean, yes, if he gets the opportunity to play the IPL, that’s fine, but don’t change your strength,” Pujara said on the Sony Sports Network.Pujara does not believe Suthar needs to make major changes to his bowling to succeed in white-ball cricket. He said the spinner can play in the IPL if the opportunity comes his way, but cautioned him against altering the qualities that have made him effective in Tests.“I think he doesn’t need to change his bowling much. Just when it comes to white-ball cricket, you need to have that flatter trajectory, and I don’t mind him playing in the IPL. If he plays in the IPL, if he’s successful in the IPL, that is fine, but don’t change your strength,” he added.Suthar is currently contracted with Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans in the IPL. However, his exposure in the tournament has been limited. He has played only five matches and taken two wickets, with four of those appearances coming during the 2026 season and one in the 2024 edition.Pujara believes Suthar’s natural ability to bowl slowly and flight the ball is precisely what makes him such an exciting prospect in Test cricket.“For someone like Manav Suthar, who is flighting the ball, who is willing to go a little slower, when it comes to red-ball cricket, you don’t need to change that. Don’t change yourself just for the IPL. I can understand, but don’t change your natural ability, which is to flight the ball,” said Pujara.The former India No. 3 also pointed to Suthar’s willingness to attack with flight even when the ball was new as one of the reasons behind his success against Sri Lanka.“When you look at his bowling in the first innings and even while the ball was new, he was willing to flight the ball, put the ball in the right areas. The way he has bowled, I think India has found a proper left-arm spinner who will be there in the squad for a long time,” he added.Suthar’s breakthrough performance in Galle came at an important time for India. The Test was wrapped up during the second session on the fifth and final day, with rain forecast for the remainder of the day. Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja ensured India completed the job without having to worry about a weather intervention.The victory gave India valuable World Test Championship points and put them 1-0 ahead in the two-match series.India will now look to complete a series whitewash when they face Sri Lanka in the second Test, beginning in Colombo on August 23.
