The IPL 2025 auction concluded last month, with the Gujarat Titans making the strategic decision to bring back Manav Suthar who is a promising player from Rajasthan. Suthar, a full-time left-arm spinner, now makes his return to the team with a bid of 30 lakh rupees. The 24-year-old Manav Suthar is gearing up for his second IPL season with the Gujarat Titans. The team showed continued interest by purchasing him back for Rs 30 lakh this year, proving his value as a trustworthy asset.
In an exclusive interview with InsideSport, Manav Suthar shared his experience of playing in the IPL 2024.
Experience of bowling to Virat Kohli
He recounted his memorable encounter with Virat Kohli during last year’s match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Bowling his first IPL delivery against one of India’s finest cricketers. “Virat Bhaiya has been my idol since childhood. I was given to bowl the third over, and when I went to bowl to him, the only thing on my mind was that I was going to bowl to the person I had grown up watching and who had been my idol. It was truly a great moment for me. I also shared this moment with my friends. I was bowling the first ball of my debut against the person I had been watching since childhood. It was a great feeling” Manav said.
Suthar reflected on the learning experience this opportunity provided him. “Initially, I was thinking about Virat, but after that, I started focusing on my bowling,” he added.
Developing as a versatile player
Suthar is committed to enhancing his skills beyond bowling. He shared his journey in improving his batting capabilities, stating, “Over the past few years, I have regularly batted. During the Ranji Trophy, I scored 96 runs not out. In the Duleep Trophy this year, I managed to score 80 runs in a match. I continuously work on my batting to become a more versatile player, which is beneficial for any team to have.”
Progress in domestic tournaments
Reflecting on his career, Suthar played for the Gujarat Titans last year and featured in a match against the Royal Challengers Bangalore. Despite being a part of only one IPL match, the young spinner has shown considerable progress in domestic cricket. He played in the Irani Cup against Mumbai and represented India C in the Duleep Trophy. Over 21 first-class matches, Suthar has impressively taken approximately 86 wickets. In T20s, he has played 13 matches, claiming 10 wickets. He also played for India A recently when the team visited Australia, further building his experience and working on his skills.
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