JAIPUR: Manav Suthar’s rapid rise in red-ball cricket has been an education in adaptability. From gripping the pronounced seam of the SG ball at home to working with the Dukes in county cricket and the Kookaburra in Sri Lanka, the 24-year-old from Rajasthan has negotiated markedly different conditions in a remarkably short span.Now, as he heads to New Zealand with the India ‘A’ squad, the young left-arm spinner faces another challenge: finding a way to be effective in the wind and on surfaces that may offer little turn.Rather than arriving with a rigid tactical blueprint for a country he has never visited, Suthar is banking on his ability to adapt on the go and keep things simple. “I have never played in New Zealand. This is my first time,” Suthar told TOI.His excitement about the India ‘A’ assignment is unmistakable. “I’m 100% looking forward to doing my best for the team. Not just in terms of my bowling, but in batting as well,” he said.That confidence is rooted in rigorous preparation and a willingness to learn in demanding conditions. His recent stint with Warwickshire, where he took 27 wickets in six County Championship matches, sharpened his tactical understanding and broadened his repertoire.“There are a lot of things I learned from county cricket,” Suthar said. “Like crease variation and speed variation. You have to figure out what the ideal speed is on that particular day, whether it is the first day of the wicket or the last day. There are just so many things that I picked up there.”Has switching between different balls and conditions accelerated his development? “100%. When you play with different variables in distinct conditions, you’re forced to adapt to those situations quickly. Switching and learning so quickly is incredibly good for any cricketer. We practice diligently for this. Like before our previous tour, we had a 10-day preparatory camp where we trained extensively. Similarly, before I went to England, I trained with local equipment. Those practice sessions were crucial,” he said.Looking back on a rapid ascent that has already yielded 23 wickets in his first three Tests, Suthar identifies this exposure as his greatest asset. “Playing matches across all these environments has given me a genuine feel for the game and that experience is what matters most,” he added.That experience should serve him well in New Zealand, where he will again work with the Kookaburra. His approach remains straightforward. “The Kookaburra seam is very good and always stays in good shape,” he said. “I just try to do the same thing for as long as possible. I focus on bowling in the same area and maintaining that good length, and that’s the main thing.”Then there is the challenge of bowling in strong crosswinds. For Suthar, it is not an entirely unfamiliar assignment. “Even when we played in the subcontinent previously, there was a lot of wind,” he said. “I think using the crease is much more important when you have to deal with a strong crosswind. The main thing I focus on in those situations is adapting to the conditions as quickly as possible.“I will stick to my natural trajectory. I cannot say right now what will help me in that particular situation. I will go there, see what the wicket is offering, and figure out the right length, seam position, and pace after bowling for a couple of days,” he said.
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