Dinesh Karthik backs Washington Sundar as R Ashwin's future replacement

Indian spin maestro R Ashwin has been the leader of the attack for years, especially in Test cricket. The team required a finger spinner after veteran Harbhajan Singh hung his boots. Ashwin took over the mantle and has played 100 Tests for India and is still going strong. As the 37-year-old is nearing the end, former India cricketer Dinesh Karthik has opined on the veteran’s potential replacement. 

Ashwin played his last ODI in the World Cup 2023 against Australia and did not feature again in the tournament after the first game. His last T20I came against England in T20 World Cup 2022 semifinal. With white-ball cricket seemingly out of his grasp, he will likely feature in the upcoming red-ball series against Bangladesh. Karthik opined that Washington Sundar is the frontrunner in India’s prospects of next-generation spinners.

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“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.

Ashwin has featured in 100 Tests for India and has plucked 516 wickets. He is the second from top amongst Indian bowlers in the list of highest wicket-takers in Tests, after Anil Kumble (619 wickets in 132 Tests). Moreover, Ashwin has done so with an average of 23.75 and a strike rate of 50.71. He has been handy with the bat as he has amassed 3309 runs in 141 innings at an average of 26.26 with five centuries to his name.