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Amarpal Singh Verma
senior journalist

The selection of young cricketer Manav Suthar from Sriganganagar, situated on the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan, in the Indian Test team is not only a personal achievement of a player, but this selection is also a news of hope for those youth who cherish their dreams amidst limited resources in small towns. 23-year-old Khabbu player Manav getting a place in the Indian team for the first time for the test series announced against Afghanistan is a moment of inspiration for Sriganganagar, Rajasthan and all the youth who believe that continuous hard work can take any player forward.

There has long been a belief in India that making it big in sports requires big cities, expensive training centers and a strong family background. In a popular game like cricket, the dominance of metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai or Bengaluru was clearly visible, but this picture is changing in the last few years. Players originating from small cities and towns are now making their mark at the national and international level. Manav Suthar’s achievement shows that now avenues are opening for players from small towns also.

Manav Suthar, resident of Sriganganagar, comes from an ordinary family. His father Jagdish Suthar is a school teacher and mother Sushila Devi is a housewife. It was not easy for Manav, who came from an ordinary family, to reach cricket, but he worked hard continuously, the result of which is visible today. Manav made cricket his passion at the age of just 10 and started taking the game seriously. Manav made cricket not just a hobby but a goal.

His journey, which started from the local level, gradually grew stronger. As captain of the Sriganganagar team, he led success at the Under-14 and Under-16 levels. These achievements were not limited to winning trophies only, but these achievements gave him a recognition in local cricket. After this he made his way to Rajasthan Under-16, Under-19 and Under-23 teams. This shows how important consistent performance is with talent.

Arguably, reaching Ranji Trophy is an important milestone for any domestic player. Manav, who made his debut in first-class cricket in the year 2022, has consistently performed well in domestic cricket. Manav caught the attention of the selectors by performing consistently well in domestic cricket. Being a part of Gujarat Titans team in IPL was also an important phase of his career. Even though he gets limited opportunities, sometimes the real test of a player lies in keeping himself prepared despite getting less opportunities on the field. Obviously, Manav did not lose patience. Despite getting limited opportunities, he continued his preparation and performance.

Manav’s selection is also important for Rajasthan. After a long gap, a player from the state getting a place in the Indian Test team proves that there is no dearth of talent in states like Rajasthan. Lack of sports facilities, coaching, grounds and economic support is often seen in small towns. Despite this, when a player reaches the national team, it impacts the youth of the entire region. The success story of human betterment is also important from the social point of view. (These are the personal views of the author.)