India's ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been a cornerstone of the national team for many years, particularly in Test cricket. His prowess with the ball has been instrumental in India's success in the longest format of the game. When veteran Harbhajan Singh retired, Ashwin stepped up to fill the void, becoming a leading figure in India's spin bowling attack. He has represented India in 100 Test matches and continues to be a force to be reckoned with. As Ashwin approaches the latter stages of his career, discussions have arisen about potential successors. Former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik believes that Washington Sundar is a strong contender to take over the mantle of India's premier spinner in the future.
While Ashwin's white-ball cricket career seems to be on the decline, having not featured in ODIs or T20Is since the World Cup 2023 and 2022, respectively, he is expected to play a crucial role in the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.
Washington Sundar is the front-runner behind R Ashwin: Dinesh Karthik
“India are definitely looking for a next-gen off-spinner, as in last India ‘A’ series against England Lions, they tried three off-spinners in three matches: Pulkit Narang, Washington Sundar and Saransh Jain,” Karthik said on Cricbuzz.
“They are trying out and Washington Sundar is the front-runner behind Ravichandran Ashwin right now. He’s done well in whatever limited opportunities he’s got and I feel he will get his due first before going to anybody else,” he added.
R Ashwin's Test cricket records
R Ashwin has had a remarkable career in Test cricket, representing India in 100 matches and claiming an impressive 516 wickets. This achievement places him second among Indian bowlers in the list of highest wicket-takers in Tests, surpassed only by Anil Kumble. Ashwin's wicket-taking abilities have been exceptional, with an average of 23.75 and a strike rate of 50.71. Not only has he been a formidable bowler, but he has also contributed significantly with the bat. Ashwin has scored 3309 runs in 141 innings, averaging 26.26 and including five centuries. His all-round skills have made him a valuable asset to the Indian team.
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