From Rajasthan to Mullanpur: The nerve-wracking superstition behind Manav Suthar’s debut

A proud father travelled hundreds of kilometres to watch his son take the field for India, only to leave the stadium before the first ball was bowled.

The Mullanpur stadium was buzzing on the second day of the one-off Test against Afghanistan, but a notable absence was felt in the stands. Jagdish Suthar, a retired physical education teacher from Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, had made the long journey to see his son, Manav Suthar, don the prestigious India cap. Yet, just as the young left-arm spinner prepared to weave his magic on the pitch, Jagdish, his wife, and daughter Mansi were already on their way home.

It wasn't a sudden emergency or a change of heart, but a cocktail of parental nerves and deeply held superstition. For Jagdish, watching his son live in such a high-stakes environment proved too much to bear. "I can't describe how it felt seeing him get the Test Cap yesterday," Jagdish admitted. "However, today we had come back home as we were all nervous and a bit superstitious watching him live in action from the stadium."

A breakthrough performance

The decision to skip the live action paid off, at least in terms of the scoreboard. Manav Suthar repaid the trust shown by the national team management with a clinical display of spin bowling. Delivering 15.5 overs, he claimed 3/21, effectively dismantling the Afghanistan batting lineup and proving that his rise to the international stage is built on a foundation of grit rather than luck.

Behind the scenes, the Suthar family remains remarkably grounded. Jagdish is quick to deflect praise, insisting that the credit belongs entirely to his son and his childhood coach, Dheeraj Sharma. According to the senior Suthar, Manav’s path was never about a predetermined destiny but a decade of relentless practice. "He would leave home for training in the morning and return late in the evening," Jagdish recalled. "It is his credit and his childhood coach Dheeraj Sharma to whom we are all indebted."

The bigger picture: Why it matters

The story of the Suthar family highlights the quiet, often unseen emotional toll of Indian cricket. For every player who breaks into the national side, there is a support system that has spent years navigating the anxieties of the sport. While cricket fans often focus on match statistics and strike rates, the personal stakes for families—who are often the only ones providing the initial resources and encouragement—reveal the human side of the professional game.

Manav’s journey from a child playing with tennis balls in Rajasthan to becoming a Test cricketer mirrors the classic aspirational trajectory of Indian sport. It emphasizes that while infrastructure and coaching are vital, the "support" mentioned by Jagdish—the freedom for a child to pursue their passion without the pressure of parental expectation—remains the most critical factor in developing talent. As Manav continues his career, his success acts as a reminder that behind the poise of an international debutant lies years of sacrifice, early mornings, and the simple, quiet faith of a father.