3 players who can replace Ravichandran Ashwin in India squad. (Source – Getty Images)
“Truly a very emotional moment. I don’t think I am in a position where I would be answering the questions in the right way,” shared a misty-eyed Ravichandran Ashwin in the post-match press conference after the third Test against Australia in the ongoing edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A pure maestro of the game calling it quits in as abrupt a manner as Ashwin sure did evoke a whole lot of emotions from the Indian cricket fraternity. Other than his extensive expertise, the national side will also miss the team player in Ashwin.
However, unlike Ashwin, the Board of Control for Cricket in India in addition to the management of the Indian cricket team will have to answer the pressing issue pertaining to Ashwin’s replacement promptly. It clearly won’t be an easy task replacing an all-time Test great, who finished his career as the second-leading wicket-taker in Tests for India. Other than his magnificent bowling, he has also been a more-than-handy resource with the bat. In the same vein, his all-round contributions in the 181 limited overs games cannot be overlooked.
Here are 3 potential replacements of Ashwin:
3. Manav Suthar (Left-arm Orthodox and Left-hand Bat)
Manav Suthar. (Photo Source: Jio Cinema)
Manav Suthar may not have had enough games under his belt in the domestic circuit thus far. However, the 21 first-class he has played as of December 2024 have quite noticeably illustrated the impact he offers with the ball. The control which Suthar offered while playing last season’s Ranji Trophy was next to none.
He has had a decent track record in the white-ball domestic games as well. Furthermore, Suthar is quite a handy lower middle-order batter. As gritty as Ashwin was in the red-ball format, the Rajasthan cricketer has shown promising signs of his dogges technique in the First Class games played so far. The 22-year-old can quite definitely be considered as one of Ashwin’s successors, provided he is eased into the setup.
2. Tanush Kotian (Right-arm Off-break & Right-hand Bat)
Tanush Kotian (twitter)
Tanush Kotian has been a game-changer for Mumbai over the years. The tall six-foot bowling all-rounder can certainly be considered as a like-for-like replacement for Ashwin. Kotian’s high-arm release and subtle changes of pace have been a major contributor for his 101 FC dismissals up until now at an impressive average of 25.70. He also emerged as the Player of the Tournament during the Ranji Trophy 2024 season and played a massive part in Mumbai’s 42nd title win.
The value Kotian provides with the bat only adds to his portfolio. There have been many instances of Kotian sticking around with the tail and contributing immensely. The 13 half-centuries and two tons in his domestic red-ball career are testament to his batting capabilities. He can surely be groomed as an option for the Chennai-born’s replacement in the coming years.
Also Check: Tanush Kotian’s Records & Stats – Tanush Kotian’s Career in Numbers
1. Washington Sundar (Right-arm Off-break & Left-hand Bat)
Washington Sundar. (Source – BCCI/Twitter)
Having stuck in and around the Indian unit for several years now, Washington Sundar seems to have finally found his groove when it comes to featuring in the India’s white-ball teams. The 2024 New Zealand series where Sundar was one of the few bright spots for the team in a series drubbing was proof of the great things Sundar could achieve in the longest format. Sundar’s batting also matches the level at which Ashwin used to operate.
An additional trait which Sundar possesses with the willow is his adaptability to act as a floater in the line-up. He definitely possesses remarkable ability of hanging in when the conditions get adverse and eventually finding a way out. The 25-year-old’s domestic red-ball career suggests that much like the opportunities provided to him as a part of the Indian white-ball squads, he could very well become the all-format spin-bowling all-rounder India are in need of after Ashwin’s ouster.