'He is not that attacking spinner anymore' - R Ashwin's massive claim on Ravindra Jadeja after Galle Test

India defeated Sri Lanka by 165 runs in the first Test at Galle on August 19, 2026, with left-arm spinner Manav Suthar delivering a standout performance. Suthar took 10 wickets across the match, claiming four in the first innings and 6 for 55 in the second, becoming the youngest Indian bowler to take a 10-wicket haul in an away Test. The victory gave India a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and marked India's 600th Test match.

R Ashwin analysed the contrasting roles of Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar following the Galle Test. The former India cricketer highlighted the different strengths each spinner brought to the Shubman Gill-led side's bowling attack, with Jadeja taking three wickets in Sri Lanka's first innings of 284 and four wickets overall in the match.

"Jadeja and Suthar are completely different bowlers. Suthar's strength is the ball rotation in his hands. Jadeja will bowl to the wickets and give you control with his stock balls. I feel Jadeja is not that attacking spinner anymore. He is a batter who will give experience with the ball and I feel he has transitioned to that role, which is not such a bad thing," Ashwin said on his YouTube.

Ashwin praised Suthar's approach and impact on India's spin-bowling stocks. The former India off-spinner noted that Suthar has demonstrated his wicket-taking ability across his first two Tests and was setting fields strategically to exploit batters' weaknesses.

"Manav Suthar, in the previous Test and this one as well, is putting his hands up and saying he also knows how to pick wickets. He was gauging what the batters might do and bowling accordingly. I feel as far as wicket-taking is concerned, there is no connection to how the ball comes off the hand," Ashwin said.

"How you utilise it and set fields, that's what matters. He has given a great account of his skills in the first two Tests. He is very important to India's spin bowling stocks," he added.

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Ashwin also reflected on India's batting performance and the match context at Galle. He noted that India's first-innings total of 450-plus had placed Sri Lanka under significant pressure from the outset.

"433 is the average first-innings score at Galle. When India won the toss and put 450-plus on the board, everyone knew at that moment that it was going to be difficult for Sri Lanka. But I feel Sri Lanka played very well and gave a good fight for a young side. Devdutt Padikkal was incredible," Ashwin said.

"Dhruv Jurel played well. Rishabh Pant played a superb knock in the second innings. Standard batting from KL Rahul. Manav Suthar was the highlight, everyone is going to talk about him," he added.