After Ravichandran Ashwin's retirement from international cricket, who are the top spinners likely to replace him? Top four spinners likely to replace Ashwin.
With the retirement of veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin from international cricket, India faces a major void to fill in Test cricket. The 38-year-old finished as the second-highest Test wicket-taker for India with 537 scalps in 106 fixtures. His contribution with the ball for the national side, especially at home, is second to none since his debut in November 2011.
Since the start of 2011, Ashwin has picked up the most wickets at home in the red-ball format. The Chennai-born has bagged 383 scalps in 127 innings at an average of 21.57 with 29 five-wicket hauls. The former England pacer, Stuart Broad, is second on the list with 343 wickets at 24.92.
It won’t be an easy job for the selectors to identify the successor of the Tamil Nadu spinner. Let’s take a look at the four potential off-spinners who could fill Ashwin’s spot in the Test side.
Washington Sundar (Tamil Nadu)
Among all the available options, Washington Sundar appears to be the closest like-for-like replacement. The 25-year-old has already featured in seven red-ball clashes for India. The Chennai-born has enjoyed 24 wickets in 13 innings at an average of 23.91, with a best bowling figure of 7/59 in an innings.
This came on the back of his magical performance against New Zealand at home. Sundar finished the series as the joint-highest wicket-taker. In four innings, the off-spinner collected 16 wickets at an average of 14.12 and a strike rate of below 27.
In 34 first-class games, the Tamil Nadu spinner has cracked 83 scalps at an average of under 27. The left-handed batter has also contributed with 1520 FC runs in 54 innings at an average of 33.04. He could also offer India additional flexibility with the bat.
Tanush Kotian (Mumbai)
Mumbai’s Tanush Kotian is one of the off-spinners who has made waves at the domestic level. Having recently played for India-A Down Under, he has caught the attention of the national selectors. In 33 first-class games, the 26-year-old has picked up 101 wickets at an average of 25.70. His strike rate of 46.4 is quite impressive, with three five-wicket hauls.
In the first half of the Ranji Trophy 2024/25, Kotian was part of only two encounters. But he has already bagged 12 wickets at an average of 16.66. In the previous season of the tournament, he ended with 29 scalps in 18 innings at an average under 17. The right-hander also contributed with the bat in Mumbai’s 42nd Ranji title. He smashed 502 runs in 14 innings at an average of 41.83, shouldering on five half-centuries and one century.
His overall batting record in first-class cricket is also impressive. The all-rounder has drilled 1525 runs in 47 FC innings at an average of 41.21 with a couple of centuries and 13 half-centuries. Kotian has all the potential to join the national side.
Read More: Ranji Trophy 2023-24, Final: Mumbai beat Vidarbha by 169 runs, Kotian gets player of the series
Saransh Jain (Madhya Pradesh)
Saransh Jain became the Ranji Trophy champion with Madhya Pradesh during the 2021-22 season. In 2022-23, the Indore-born won the Lala Amarnath Award for the best all-rounder of the tournament, with 362 runs and 35 wickets in eight matches. That earned him a call-up to the India A side to face the England Lions, where he notched up half-centuries in both innings of his only fixture.
The 31-year-old has drilled 1425 FC runs in 62 innings at an average of 26.38. Jain has celebrated 123 wickets in 71 FC innings at an average of under 29 with six five-wicket hauls. In the previous season of the Ranji Trophy, the left-handed batter smacked 432 runs in 13 innings at an average of 36, celebrating one century and a fifty in that edition. In the bowling department, he ended with 27 wickets in 15 innings at an average of 20.
Jain has been impressive with both bat and ball in the last few seasons of the event. The Indian selectors could keep an eye on him.
Pulkit Narang (Services)
The 30-year-old Pulkit Narang is another off-spinner who could be considered for the national side. In 38 FC games, the right-hander has smacked 976 runs at an average under 18. But he has shouldered the spin department of his domestic team. In 38 fixtures, he has picked up 114 wickets at an average under 28.
In the ongoing season of the Ranji Trophy 2024/25, he has collected 15 wickets in five games at an average of 26.86. Even in the previous edition, he had the mirror image record but at a better average under 22.80. In the last season, his three wickets were instrumental in Services pocketing a vital first-innings lead against Haryana. Narang ran through the opponent’s batting line-up in the second innings with 5/55 to script a famous win.
Kerala’s Jalaj Saxena is another star with an incredible record in the domestic red-ball circuit but has yet to make his Test debut. In 145 FC games, he has gathered 6834 runs at an average of 33.83 with 14 centuries and 33 half-centuries. Even with the ball, he has collected 464 wickets at an average of 25.29. But at the age of 38, it will be really hard for him to win the maiden cap.
India’s next home Test series is scheduled for October 2025 against West Indies. Before that, the selectors will have a tough task in finding a replacement for Ravichandran Ashwin.
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