“Manav Suthar musn’t change just for the sake of the IPL”: Cheteshwar Pujara
By taking 10 wickets in the Galle Test match, Manav Suthar has emerged as the hero of Team India’s bowling unit. Consequently, fans and the team management are pinning similar hopes on him for the Colombo Test. This young player is already being touted as a potential successor to the legendary Ravindra Jadeja. Former Team India star batter Cheteshwar Pujara has made significant remarks regarding Manav Suthar and has also made an appeal to the Indian team management concerning him.
Speaking about the young player potentially playing in the IPL, Pujara said, “He would want to play in the IPL, but there is a need to be cautious. I mean, if he gets the opportunity to play in the IPL, that’s great, but don’t alter your strengths for it… A bowler like Manav Suthar—who flights the ball and is prepared to bowl at a slower pace in red-ball cricket—doesn’t need to change that style. Don’t change yourself just for the sake of the IPL.”
Sairaj Bahutule supports Kuldeep Yadav ahead of second test
Defending Kuldeep Yadav on Friday, India’s spin bowling coach Sairaj Bahutule stated that the left-arm wrist-spinner remains part of the team management’s plans and that a single poor performance does not define his ability. In the first Test, Kuldeep claimed only one wicket after bowling a total of 25 overs across both innings. In contrast, young left-arm spinner Manav Suthar and the experienced Ravindra Jadeja combined to take 14 wickets.
Bahutule said, “Kuldeep is bowling brilliantly. Conditions in Galle were different; he had to play a different role. Kuldeep has always been a match-winning bowler and is part of the team’s plans.” Bahutule added, “All spinners struggle with the soft ball.”
“However, left-arm spinners or off-spinners control the ball with their fingers, so it is somewhat easier for them. On the other hand, it is much harder for a leg-spinner to bowl with a soft ball because the seam flattens out. It is more difficult for a wrist-spinner to bowl with a soft ball; the seam sinks in because it becomes soft.”
Sri Lanka appoint Hashan Tillakaratne as batting coach
Ahead of the second Test against India, Sri Lanka has appointed Hashan Tillakaratne as the batting coach of the senior men’s team. He was appointed on August 20, 2026, and his contract is valid until December 31, 2027. This means he will play a key role in preparations for next year’s ODI World Cup. He will be based at Sri Lanka Cricket’s National High Performance Center, where he will work with the national players.
Hashan Tillakaratne was part of the team that won the 1996 World Cup. Tillakaratne, who has played over 250 international matches as a cricketer, also has extensive coaching experience. He has served as the batting coach of the Sri Lankan men’s national team and the head coach of the women’s national team. He also served as the head coach of the Bangladesh women’s national team.
Joe Root sets record for most catches in Test cricket
On the third day of the first Test against Pakistan at Headingley, England Test captain Joe Root broke Steve Smith’s record for the most catches taken by a fielder in Test cricket. Root took the catch of Pakistan opener Azan Awais, who had been dismissed for nine runs by England fast bowler Jofra Archer during Pakistan’s second innings. With this catch, Root’s total tally reached 219, surpassing Smith’s previous record of 218 catches.
With 219 catches, Root now tops the list of fielders with the most catches in Test cricket; Smith follows in second place with 218 catches. Former Indian batsman Rahul Dravid holds the third spot with 210 catches, while Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene has 205 and South Africa’s Jacques Kallis has 200 catches to their names.
Kate Cross to retire from professional cricket
Kate Cross, the experienced player and fast bowler of the England women’s cricket team, announced her retirement from professional cricket on the evening of 21 August. Kate Cross was active in international cricket for the last 15 years in which she played a total of 102 matches in all formats. While announcing her retirement, Cross made it clear that the English summer season will be her last, after which she will say goodbye to cricket. 34-year-old Kate Cross was excluded from the Player Central Contract announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board in September last year and she has not played any match in international cricket since then.
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