India vs Afghanistan: Sitanshu Kotak credits BCCI domestic pipeline after Manav Suthar’s dream 7-wicket Test debut
Following India’s thumping innings victory over Afghanistan, batting coach Sitanshu Kotak credited the BCCI's robust domestic structure for debutant Manav Suthar's spectacular seven-wicket haul, emphasizing the seamless transition from India A to the senior national side
New Chandigarh: India batting coach Sitanshu Kotak hailed debutant Manav Suthar’s outstanding performance against Afghanistan, saying the left-arm spinner’s rise was a reflection of the robust domestic and developmental structure in Indian cricket.
Suthar made a dream international debut, taking 7 for 62 to claim the Player of the Match award as India crushed Afghanistan by an innings and 300 runs in the one-off Test at New Chandigarh on Monday.
The 22-year-old spinner played a pivotal role in India’s clinical victory. He helped bundle Afghanistan out for a paltry 152 in the first innings and triggered another collapse after the visitors were asked to follow on. He also chipped in with useful runs lower down the order, impressing the team management with his all-round capabilities.
Reflecting on Suthar’s stellar performance, Kotak noted that the youngster’s success came from years of systematic development. “He has been playing for two or three years—India A, India Emerging, and all. It was a great opportunity for him. He bowled really well and also batted effectively, which is very satisfying.”
Kotak added, “The structure of the BCCI is such that players move from age-group cricket to the Ranji Trophy, then to the Emerging team, onto India A, and eventually to the national side. The IPL also provides great exposure for all these players.”
India amassed a mammoth first-innings total before bowling Afghanistan out cheaply. Despite the searing heat, India opted to enforce the follow-on, a choice Kotak explained was part of preparing the bowling unit for tougher future challenges.
“If they had batted until the second session, then maybe we would have batted again. But since we scored so many runs and they got out for 152, everyone thought that if they got out before lunch, we should enforce the follow-on and bowl again.”
He continued, “There will be times when we have to bowl 100 or 120 overs in one innings or across two innings. It’s not just about practicing batting; we also need to work on bowling longer spells of spin.”
While Suthar stole the spotlight on debut, Washington Sundar also delivered a significant all-round performance, scoring a resilient half-century in the first innings and registering figures of 4 for 36 in the second. Kotak praised Sundar’s maturity and versatility, noting how his time through the ranks has molded him into a reliable asset.
“Usually, he bats at seven or eight. In the previous Test, due to the pitch conditions and strategic left-right batting combinations, he batted higher up. But he has been part of the system since India A. He was part of the first series I did in 2019. He is exceptionally mature.”
“In red-ball cricket, he contributes with both bat and ball. He is a highly useful player with the right temperament. Whether he gets the opportunity to bowl or bat, his work ethic and behavior stay consistent.”
“There are players who feel disappointed [at times]. But if you keep working hard for six, seven, or eight years and continue to mature, I believe you will perform,” Kotak stated.
Although the one-off Test does not count toward the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, Kotak viewed it as a crucial stepping stone to address the red-ball issues encountered during their previous tour of South Africa.
“We discussed that the IPL just finished, and the challenge was to quickly switch back to red-ball cricket within four or five practice sessions. We talked about certain areas, especially the batting unit, during our camp in Guwahati, and revisited those topics.”
“In England, our batters did really well against fast bowlers. In the South Africa series, we could have performed better against spin. Many people say our batters struggle against spin; I don’t agree with that,” Kotak concluded.
