India openers KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal are in the middle.
India are already leading by 178 runs and will look to put massive lead on the board.
Here we go ... !!
Suthar finished with figures of 4 for 76 and kept Sri Lanka under pressure even when Sonal Dinusha and Niroshan Dickwella, who scored 80, put up a strong fight in the post-lunch session.
India had reduced Sri Lanka to 99 for five at lunch, but the hosts fought back strongly in the second session.
Suthar said the key was to remain patient and continue bowling in the right areas.
“Our main focus was to get wickets in the first session. We didn't get wickets in the second session but we got results in the third session. So, our focus was to keep bowling consistently in good areas.
“They (SL batters Dinusha and Dickwella) were rotating the strike well. So, we needed to plan accordingly. So, our focus was on how we can create opportunities by bowling stump to stump line and find the right pace to bowl for this wicket,” he said.
Suthar spent 10 days training at the CoE with Kookaburra balls. The sessions were held in an open area where winds moved across the field, closely matching the conditions he would face in Galle.
The coaches also worked with him on his approach to the crease, helping him prepare for the demands of the Test.
Suthar said the training gave him a clear plan for the conditions in Sri Lanka.
“I was practising with the Kookaburra ball after the Afghanistan Test. So, my plan was pretty simple to bowl in good areas, right length, right speed as the wicket here offers some bounce too which makes it mandatory to bowl at the right line,” said Suthar in the post-day press conference.
Suthar also paid close attention to the way Sri Lanka’s spinners bowled during the first two days of the Test.
He observed how they varied their pace and extracted assistance from the Galle pitch.
“They bowled well yesterday. They varied their pace, and I feel that on this wicket, the more consistent you are, the more purchase you get. So that’s what we were trying to do," he said.
For Suthar, the biggest takeaway from the day was the chance to bowl alongside Jadeja and observe the senior spinner closely.
“There are a lot of things that I can learn from him (Jadeja). He uses the (bowling) crease so well. His consistency while bowling at stumps is world-class. So, I would like to learn from him that no matter what the batsman is doing," Suthar said at the end of Day 3.
Suthar said Jadeja’s ability to keep bowling at the stumps and wait for a mistake was something he wanted to add to his own game.
“How long can one bowl on the stumps? Can you get a false shot? So there’s a lot to learn from him," he added.
Debutant left-arm spinner Manav Suthar had a memorable outing on Day 3 of the first Test against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium on Monday. After taking four wickets to help India bowl Sri Lanka out for 284, Suthar said he was more interested in learning from experienced spinner Ravindra Jadeja.
Suthar finished with figures of 4-76 in 21.4 overs, helping India take a 178-run first-innings lead. Jadeja also impressed with 3-67 in 21 overs and reached the milestone of 350 Test wickets.
Suthar also had an experienced partner at the other end in Ravindra Jadeja, who completed 350 Test wickets while taking three wickets in the innings.
The young spinner said bowling alongside Jadeja gave him an opportunity to learn from one of India’s most experienced left-arm spinners.
“There are a lot of things that I can learn from him. He uses the (bowling) crease so well. His consistency while bowling at stumps is world class. So I would like to learn from him that no matter what the batsman is doing.
“How long can I bowl on the stump? Can you get a false shot? So there's a lot to learn from him,” he noted.
Suthar then made an instant impact with his very first delivery.
The young left-arm spinner found a faint outside edge from veteran Dinesh Chandimal, with Rishabh Pant taking the catch behind the stumps.
Lahiru Udara and Kamindu Mendis briefly steadied Sri Lanka’s innings. Mendis even pulled Prasidh Krishna for a six, while Udara used the pull and cut shots to collect boundaries against Suthar.
But Suthar eventually got his reward. Udara attempted a loose shot and the ball went straight to Yashasvi Jaiswal at gully.
Suthar was particularly impressive because he managed to generate consistent turn while bowling above 85 kmph.
The same could not be said about Sri Lanka’s top order.
Several batters played with hard hands and drove away from their bodies, resulting in catches in awkward positions.
India had resumed the day on 460 for nine and added only two runs before being bowled out for 462.
Sri Lanka needed a solid start in reply but instead lost a wicket with only their second delivery.
Hello and welcome to the Live coverage of Day 4 of the first Test match between India and Sri Lanka in Galle.
India’s spinners Manav Suthar and Ravindra Jadeja kept Sri Lanka under pressure as the hosts were bowled out for 284 on Day 3 of the first Test on Monday. Despite Sonal Dinusha’s maiden international hundred, India took a strong 178-run first-innings lead. Suthar led the attack with 4/76, while Jadeja returned 3/57 as India’s bowlers recovered after Sri Lanka put up a strong fight in the second session.
