Former Indian wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik has identified 24-year-old Washington Sundar as the top contender to replace veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the Indian Test squad. Sundar, who made his Test debut against Australia in Brisbane in January 2021, has taken six wickets in four Test matches so far.
Karthik highlighted Sundar’s performance during the India ‘A’ series against the England Lions, where Sundar, Pulkit Narang, and Saransh Jain were tested as potential next-generation off-spinners. According to Karthik, Sundar has shown promise in the limited opportunities he’s received and is currently the leading candidate to succeed Ashwin.
Sundar has also featured in the recent three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, scoring 265 runs and taking six wickets in four red-ball matches. His last Test appearance was in Ahmedabad against England in March 2021.
Ashwin, who debuted in November 2011, has an impressive record with 516 wickets in 100 Test matches. He stands second only to Anil Kumble in the list of India’s highest wicket-takers in Test cricket. Ashwin’s recent performances include being the top wicket-taker in the five-Test series against England earlier this year, with 26 dismissals in 10 innings.
Looking ahead, Ashwin will play a crucial role in India’s upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh, starting on September 19, 2024, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. This series will be followed by a three-match Test series against New Zealand at home in October–November, before India heads to Australia for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
