Dinesh Karthik spoke in detail about Ravichandran Ashwin’s potential successor in Team India.
Ravichandran Ashwin has proven himself as India’s preferred off-spinner over the last few years, especially when it comes to the longest format. Ashwin is the second-highest wicket-taker for India in Test cricket. Earlier this year, he became the second Indian to surpass the 500-wicket milestone in the format, joining Anil Kumble on the exclusive list.
The Indian team management is aware that, as the seasoned off-spinner approaches his 38th birthday, the moment will come when they will need to look for Ashwin’s replacement aggressively in order to guarantee a seamless transfer in the spin department.
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Dinesh Karthik, a former wicketkeeper-batter for India, feels that Washington Sundar ought to be the first person to succeed Ashwin when the time comes. Karthik noted that Sundar has the abilities and disposition needed to take over as India’s next top off-spinner, despite Ashwin’s advanced age and the unavoidable necessity for a replacement.
According to Karthik, Cricbuzz, “India is definitely looking for a next-gen off-spinner, as they tried three off-spinners in three matches: Pulkit Narang, Washington Sundar, and Saransh Jain in the last India ‘A’ series against England Lions.”
Sundar is now leading Ashwin in the race. The former captain of Tamil Nadu stated, “He’s done well in whatever limited opportunities he’s had and I feel he will get his due first before going to anybody else.”
Sundar most recently made an appearance during the white-ball series against Sri Lanka. Sundar has represented Team India in all three formats of cricket. Sundar, who is just 24 years old, has already participated in 22 ODIs and 49 T20Is. But more than three years ago, during a five-match series that India hosted for England, he played his last Test match.
Sundar in Tests so far
Sundar was left out of Team India’s longest-running squads because to the emergence of Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav, along with the presence of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Moreover, Sundar was unable to get a spot based only on his all-around abilities due to Ashwin and Axar’s outstanding records at bat.
Nonetheless, Sundar was an integral part of India’s most recent Test tour to Australia. In Brisbane, Sundar made his Test debut with an impressive all-around performance, despite the side struggling with injuries and player absences. After capturing four wickets, three of which came in the first innings, and scoring a vital sixty-two in the first, he helped India reduce the run deficit and ultimately win the series 2-1 by getting three wickets in the first innings.
