India’s latest red-ball debutant, Manav Suthar, described the moment of receiving his first Test cap as the best feeling he has ever had. Suthar, who played for the Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 under Shubman Gill’s captaincy, expressed his gratitude for receiving the cap from senior spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Suthar shared his emotions, stating that words couldn’t fully capture the significance of the moment and how motivating it was for him. He emphasized that a Test cap is a dream for every cricketer, making him immensely grateful for the opportunity.
Kuldeep Yadav, while presenting the cap to Suthar, congratulated him on his Test debut and wished him a successful career. Yadav encouraged Suthar to trust his skills, back himself, and continue spinning the ball as he desires, welcoming him to the cricketing family.
India, after winning the toss, chose to bat in the one-off Test against Afghanistan. The top order displayed resilience, with KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan scoring half-centuries to help India surpass the 200-run mark. Rahul further converted his score into a century during the last session of Day 1.
