Border–Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25: 3 players who could retire after the series and their possible replacements

1) Washington Sundar for Ravichandran Ashwin

Unquestionably, Ravichandran Ashwin is a gem who is not celebrated enough for his unblemished skillset when it comes to the cosmos of Test cricket. He has remained a cornerstone for India for a good 12 years now, especially in home Tests with ball and bat. However, the series against the Black Caps saw Ashwin err in his line & length a bit too frequently, with him getting agitated on not producing wicket-taking deliveries quite often, deviating significantly from his usual calm self. With him already 38 and not a lot of home Tests expected to be scheduled in the following couple of years with the T20 World Cup and the 50-over World Cup in the offing, it would be a logical decision if he signs off from Test cricket post the BGT.

Hailing from the same state as Ashwin, Washington Sundar has all the credentials in his portfolio to become Ashwin's perfect full-time replacement. Coming on the back of a 43-month-long hiatus from the international red-ball setup, his outing in Pune in the second Test against New Zealand with both ball and bat seemed as if he never missed a beat. He was by far the most potent threat amidst the spin trio, with his batting prowess easily visible in the Tests he played against Australia and England in 2021. With him mastering the art of tight bowling and his enhanced physical fitness and overall strength, he seems like the perfect fit for superseding Ashwin in the case of the latter consciously bowing out.