Former India spinner Murali Kartik feels that Manav Suthar has all the ingredients to become a natural successor to Ravindra Jadeja in the longest format of the game. Both Jadeja and Suthar are a part of India's Test squad for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, and the duo are all but certain to feature in the playing XI for the opener in Galle later this week. Ahead of the opening match, Kartik said that one has to think about the passing of the baton from Jadeja, considering the left-arm spinner is on the wrong side of the thirties.
Kartik said that Jadeja, 37, is in the twilight of his career and hence one obviously needs to think about a succession plan. Speaking of Suthar, he made his Test debut earlier this year, in which he scalped seven wickets, including a six-wicket haul against Afghanistan in Mullanpur.
Deep Dive
Why is Murali Kartik concerned about Ravindra Jadeja's performance in the upcoming Test series?
How has Manav Suthar performed in recent matches ahead of the Test series against Sri Lanka?
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In the recent three-day warm-up match against SLC XI, Suthar scalped two wickets and also returned with 45 runs, including a 41-run knock in the first innings. Looking at the all-around ability, Kartik feels Suthar has it in him to succeed Jadeja and play a role similar to the veteran.
“I think he is a very, very good bowler. Let's not compare him with anybody. He is old-school; he has many things going very well for him. For me, I was jumping with joy when I was doing that game against Afghanistan, because I was calling that game, and for me to see somebody release the ball like that and have that kind of consistency and have that kind of skill,” Kartik told reporters in an interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.
{{/usCountry}}“I think he is a very, very good bowler. Let's not compare him with anybody. He is old-school; he has many things going very well for him. For me, I was jumping with joy when I was doing that game against Afghanistan, because I was calling that game, and for me to see somebody release the ball like that and have that kind of consistency and have that kind of skill,” Kartik told reporters in an interaction organised by Sony Sports Network.
{{/usCountry}}“After a very long time, we are seeing a bowler like that. Maybe for India, it has come at a good time,” he added.
‘Will punch me’
Kartik also joked that Jadeja might possibly punch him if he gets to hear what the former India spinner had to say about him.
"Ravindra Jadeja will punch me the next time he meets me, but at the end of the day, he is on the wrong side of thirty. He is in the twilight of his career, and we don't know how much longer he will play. From that point of view, you are always looking at passing the baton," Kartik added.
Speaking of Jadeja, he has already retired from Tests and finds himself out of reckoning as far as the ODI format is concerned. Since the Champions Trophy 2025, Jadeja has only played six matches so far in the format, taking just one wicket.