We look at five spinners who can replace Ashwin in the XI.
Ravichandran Ashwin is India’s greatest-ever match-winner in Tests, and he proves it time and again. With towering numbers and unbelievable consistency, Ashwin has become an integral team member and has played a crucial role in making India a formidable force in Tests.
However, the stalwart has called time on his international career after the Gabba Test in Australia and India are in urgent need of a spin kingpin in the line-up.
Kuldeep Yadav is the ideal guy to replace Ravichandran Ashwin. He has been unlucky competing in the same team, comprising Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar, but now that Ashwin has gone, Kuldeep should be the priority.
He is a wrist-spinner and offers a different dimension to the bowling unit, given he is a genuine wicket-taker. Kuldeep has 53 wickets at 21.06 runs apiece in 22 Test innings, including four five-wicket hauls.
Axar Patel is another unfortunate player not to get enough chances due to Ashwin and Jadeja’s presence. However, he has been around the squad for a while now and gets to play a few games in between.
After Ashwin, India might prefer him over Kuldeep due to his superior batting abilities, for Axar has already played a few match-saving innings for India in the longest format. Further, his wicket-taking abilities will also be crucial, especially in home games.
Also Read: Why Akash Deep is the perfect addition to India’s pace attack
Sai Kishore is arguably the best spinner going around in the domestic arena. He is immensely skilled and has been knocking on the door for a while now.
Overall, he has 168 runs at an average of 24.47, including ten five-wicket and a ten-wicket haul. Kishore hasn’t got a chance due to Jadeja and Axar’s superior performances, but he might get a look now that Ashwin has retired.
The talent in the domestic circuit is immense, taking away the chances of some quality players. Like Kishore, Saurabh Kumar is one of the most improved and consistent spinners but hasn’t got to play for India yet.
He has 312 First Class wickets at an average of 24.59, with the help of 25 five-wicket hauls and 8 ten-fors in 72 games. Further, his improved batting returns, as his FC average of 26.34 depicts, make him an all-round package and an ideal replacement for Ashwin.
Being an off-spin all-rounder, Washington Sundar’s case is stronger than several other candidates. In fact, he is the only solid like-to-like replacement for Ashwin at the moment.
He has featured in seven Tests for India, snaring 24 wickets at 23.91 runs apiece, but his batting average of 48.37 with three fifties is impressive. Sundar has all the abilities to become a consistent wicket-taker and solid batter in the lower order as he showed in the New Zealand series at home.
Manav Suthar has taken massive steps in the red-ball arena in the last few days. His superior skillsets are always on show every time he plays and has shown the qualities to be a consistent wicket-taker at the top level.
Overall, he has 75 wickets at an average of 25.28, including four five-wicket and two ten-wicket hauls. While there are several spinners ahead in the pecking order, Manav is slowly ascending and will press a strong case now.
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