Karthik Backs Sundar as R Ashwin’s Successor for India

Dinesh Karthik has expressed confidence in Washington Sundar as the likely successor to Ravichandran Ashwin in India’s spin bowling department. With Ashwin being a cornerstone of the Indian Test team, discussions have surfaced about who might take over once Ashwin decides to retire. Karthik believes Sundar is currently the front-runner for the role.

Ravichandran Ashwin has been a key player for India in Test cricket, especially since stepping into the shoes of Harbhajan Singh. Having played 100 Test matches and taken 516 wickets, Ashwin remains a crucial figure in the Indian lineup. However, with Ashwin now in the later stages of his career, the need to groom a replacement has become a topic of discussion.

Dinesh Karthik highlighted that in the recent India ‘A’ series against England Lions, the team experimented with three off-spinners: Pulkit Narang, Washington Sundar, and Saransh Jain. Among them, Karthik sees Sundar as the most promising candidate to take over from Ashwin. Sundar has shown potential in his limited opportunities, and Karthik feels he will be the first choice before other contenders.

“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.

As Ashwin gears up for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh, his role in white-ball cricket appears to be diminishing. Ashwin has not featured in ODIs or T20Is since the 2023 and 2022 World Cups, respectively. Nevertheless, his impact in Test cricket remains strong, where he is second only to Anil Kumble in terms of wickets taken by an Indian bowler.

Ashwin’s Test Cricket Stats
Ravichandran Ashwin’s Test career has been remarkable, with 516 wickets in 100 matches at an average of 23.75. He has also contributed with the bat, scoring 3309 runs with five centuries. His all-around capabilities have made him an invaluable asset to the Indian team.

As India looks to the future, Washington Sundar stands out as the most likely candidate to follow in Ashwin’s footsteps, carrying forward the legacy of India’s spin bowling.

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