India’s premier off-spinner R. Ashwin announced his retirement during the press conference after day five of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy third Test between India and Australia in Brisbane on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old ended his international career with 537 Test wickets, only behind Anil Kumble’s 619. The allrounder has also picked 156 ODI wickets and 71 T20I wickets to end as India’s second-highest wicket-taker across formats behind Kumble.
Apart from his exploits with the ball, the Tamil Nadu cricketer also scored 3503 runs at an average of 25.75, laced with six Test centuries.
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Eleven Player of the Series awards, the joint-most for anyone in Test history, attests to his standing as one of India’s biggest match-winners in the longest format of the game.
With Ashwin playing a crucial role in the Indian team, especially in home Tests, there is an urgent need to find a successor to his spot.
Here are four spinners who can succeed Ashwin in the Indian Test team:
Washington Sundar
The most like-for-like among all options on this list, Washington Sundar seems to be the preferred option for the current Indian coaching setup. The Tamil Nadu cricketer was preferred to Ashwin in the first BGT Test at Perth but did not have a big role to play with the ball.
Washington Sundar of India celebrates taking the wicket of Nathan Lyon of Australia for a duck during day four of the First Test match in the series between Australia and India at Perth Stadium.
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Getty Images
Washington Sundar of India celebrates taking the wicket of Nathan Lyon of Australia for a duck during day four of the First Test match in the series between Australia and India at Perth Stadium.
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Getty Images
Sundar’s batting prowess will ensure India’s team balance, a key aspect of its home dominance in the last decade, does not get affected. The off-spinner has picked 24 wickets and scored 387 runs in seven Tests so far and also gives the option of batting higher up the order if needed.
Kuldeep Yadav
Kuldeep Yadav is already a veteran of 106 ODIs and 40 T20Is. The left-arm wrist spinner has only played 13 Tests across seven years. The 30-year-old has picked 56 wickets in the longest format at an average of 22.16, including four five-wicket hauls.
FILE PHOTO: India’s Kuldeep Yadav appeals for an LBW on the second day of the first test cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru.
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PTI
FILE PHOTO: India’s Kuldeep Yadav appeals for an LBW on the second day of the first test cricket match between India and New Zealand, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, in Bengaluru.
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PTI
Kuldeep’s biggest hindrance in finding a place in the playing XI has been his and the pace attack’s lack of lower-order batting. But, the left-arm leg-spinner has made big strides with the bat in hand. With Nitish Reddy too impressing in whites, India could accommodate both in the playing XI in home Tests to replace the retiring Ashwin.
Tanush Kotian
Another off-spinner who has impressed at the domestic level has been Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian. The 26-year-old too falls in the category of bowling all-rounder which fits the cavity Ashwin leaves with his retirement.
FILE PHOTO: Tanush Kotian of India A celebrates the wicket of Ollie Davies of Australia A during the game between Australia A and India A at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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Getty Images
FILE PHOTO: Tanush Kotian of India A celebrates the wicket of Ollie Davies of Australia A during the game between Australia A and India A at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
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Getty Images
Kotian has 101 wickets in 33 FC matches at an average of 25.70 and was part of the India A team that toured Australia ahead of the BGT. He also has 1525 runs with a healthy average of 41.21, including two hundreds and thirteen fifties.
Axar Patel
Axar Patel played the role of India’s third spinner during the home Test season across the last couple of years. The 30-year-old has picked 55 wickets in 14 games at an impressive average of 19.34. Add to that 646 runs with the bat at a healthy average of 35.88.
FILE PHOTO: India’s Axar Patel plays a shot during the third day of the second Test cricket match between India and England at ACA-VDCA Stadium In Visakhapatnam.
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DEEPAK KR/ The Hindu
FILE PHOTO: India’s Axar Patel plays a shot during the third day of the second Test cricket match between India and England at ACA-VDCA Stadium In Visakhapatnam.
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DEEPAK KR/ The Hindu
Despite the impressive numbers, Patel’s similarity to Ravindra Jadeja has been the main reason behind his exclusion. With two left-arm spinners, India will miss out on a bowler who can turn the ball away from the right-handed batter.