Sundar should be first choice replacement for Ashwin: Karthik

Former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik feels that Washington Sundar deserves the first chance to replace the prominent Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin when the opportunity arises. 

Ashwin will turn 38 on September 17, and Karthik thinks that India will need a replacement sooner rather than later.  

“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,” the former RCB player told Cricbuzz. 

Reasoning that though India tried three off-spinners, it is Sundar who deserves a chance. “Sundar is the front-runner behind 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,” the former Tamil Nadu captain asserted. Sundar also plays his domestic cricket for Tamil Nadu. 

So far, the 24-year-old has played four Tests and 27 First-Class games. Out of the four Tests, one came in Australia, where he scored 84 runs and took four wickets to win the all-important Gabba Test and the series for the Indian team. 

Sundar has picked up 56 wickets at an average of 30.76 and scored 11.32 runs at an average of 31.44, making him one of the best all-rounders in the red-ball format currently available in the country. With age by his side, he looks like the perfect replacement for Ashwin. 

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