Former India batter and presenter Cheteshwar Pujara has reckoned that Manav Suthar and Shubman Gill planned the Sri Lankan batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara’s dismissal in the second Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
Speaking on Sony Sports Network, Pujara pointed out that Gill and Suthar were involved in a discussion. Eventually, Sooriyabandara was stumped off Suthar’s bowling. Pujara stated that Suthar and Gill’s reactions revealed they dismissed Sooriyabandara with a proper plan.
“There was a discussion between the two. If you see Shubman Gill and Manav Suthar’s reactions, they discussed something when the DRS decision came. After that, the way he bowled the ball outside the off-stump, he was ready for that. Don’t know whether Manav Suthar told that to Shubman Gill or Shubman Gill told that to Manav Suthar,” Pujara said on Sony Sports Network.
Pujara went on to add that Suthar had pre-decided that he would bowl the ball wide outside the off-stump. The batter came down the pitch, which was bowled wide, and he was eventually stumped out by Pant.
“However, there was a game plan that he would probably step out on the next ball, and the ball should be bowled outside the off-stump. I don’t think he picked so early that he would step out. It was pre-decided to bowl the ball slightly outside the off-stump, so that he could get a wicket if he stepped out, and that’s what happened,” Pujara added.
Sooriyabandara amassed 92 runs off 173 balls with 10 fours and a six. In the first innings, he went on to score 80 runs, missing out on a century, inside-edging a Ravindra Jadeja delivery onto his stumps.
