India debutant Manusuthar’s memorable performance against Afghanistan came with an unusual twist. While the young spinner starred with the ball on the second day of the only Test in Molanpore, his family chose not to witness the feat from the stands.According to PTI, Manav’s father Jagdish Suthar, a retired physical education teacher from Rajasthan’s Sriganganagar district, went to Milanpur with his wife and daughter Mansi to watch the left-arm spinner get his first Test cap. However, the family returned home before the second day’s play due to nerves and superstition.Manav repaid the faith shown in him by India’s team management with a brilliant spell of 3/21 in 15.5 overs, leaving Afghanistan struggling in their first innings.“Yes, me, my wife and my daughter Mansi (Manav’s younger sister) came to watch his debut. I can’t describe how it felt to see him get a Test cap yesterday. But today we came back home because we were all nervous and a bit superstitious to see him in live action from the stadium.”Despite his son’s rise to international cricket, Jagdish was unwilling to take any credit for the success. Instead, he highlighted the dedication that Manu has shown over the years and acknowledged the role played by his childhood coach.“It is all Manu’s hard work and hours that he has put in. He used to leave home early in the morning for training and come back late in the evening. It is a credit to him and his childhood coach Dhiraj Sharma that we all owe. Manu learned all his cricket under him,” said Suther senior.Reflecting on his son’s early years, Jagdish said there was no moment when he realized that Manu could become a professional cricketer. Like many children, cricket was the only sport he loved from a young age.“Like every other child, he was fond of cricket. When he was six to seven years old, he played with tennis and a rubber ball. Since I was a PT teacher, I always encouraged my son to play and enjoy the sport. When he was about 10 to 11 years old, I admitted him to Dheeraj Sahib’s Academy. After that I just told him, ‘Whatever you like, tum kar, mera support hamisha saath rahe gaa (do whatever you like and I will give you my full support),'” added Jagdish.Asked if he was worried about balancing cricket with studies, Jagdish said it was never an issue.He said that cricket was the focus of his attention but he has also completed his graduation.According to his father, despite his growing reputation on the field, Manav is a quiet and reserved figure away from the game.“When he is at home, we hardly talk about cricket. He doesn’t talk much. Yes, we know he is a big fan of cricket. Ravichandran Ashwin And the way he dominated world cricket during his tenure,” he concluded.The decision to leave the venue early may have spared the family some awkward moments, but back home they would have been pleased to learn that Manav had enjoyed a dream second day in Test cricket, putting Afghanistan under immense pressure with three wickets on debut.
