Manav Suthar, a 23-year-old spinner from Rajasthan, received his Test cap during India's one-off Test against Afghanistan held in Mullanpur. Captain Shubman Gill confirmed Suthar's debut after winning the toss and opting to bat. Suthar has an impressive record, having taken 129 wickets in 29 first-class matches and participated in 25 List A games and 29 T20s. He played four matches for the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, where he secured two wickets. His debut is significant as he is the first specialist spin Test debutant for India since Axar Patel in 2021. The Indian team is also looking to find a long-term replacement for veteran all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, especially since this is the first Test match since November 2010 without both Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin in the lineup. Suthar's inclusion comes amid a young squad, with Gill expressing confidence in their preparation and readiness for the match, which is a rematch of their previous encounter in 2018, where India triumphed by an innings and 262 runs.