Ravichandran Ashwin is India’s greatest match-winner in Tests, and he proves it time and again. With sky-high numbers and incredible consistency, Ashwin has become an integral member of the team 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 dire need of a pivot in the lineup.

Six spinners who can replace Ashwin in the XI.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav is the ideal guy to replace Ravichandran Ashwin after his retirement. He has been unlucky competing in the same team, consisting of Ashwin, Jadeja and Axar, but once Ashwin leaves, Kuldeep should be the priority.

He is a wrist spinner and offers a different dimension to the bowling unit as he is a true wicket-taker. Kuldeep has 53 wickets at 21.06 runs apiece in 22 Test innings, including four five-wicket hauls.

Axar Patel

Axar Patel is another unfortunate player who didn’t get enough opportunities due to the presence of Ashwin and Jadeja. However, he has been in the team for a while now and can play some games in between.

After Ashwin, India might prefer him over Kuldeep due to his superior batting skills as Axar has already played some match-saving innings for India in the longest format. Furthermore, his wicket-taking ability will also be crucial, especially in home matches.

Also Read: Why Akash Deep is the perfect complement to India’s pace attack

Sai Kishore

Sai Kishore is arguably the best player there is at the national level. He is immensely skilled and has been knocking on the door for some time.

Overall, he has 168 runs at an average of 24.47, including ten five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. Kishore doesn’t stand a chance due to the superior performances of Jadeja and Axar, but he might be given a look once Ashwin hangs up his boots.

Saurabh Kumar

The talent on the domestic circuit is immense, taking away the possibilities of some quality players. Like Kishore, Saurabh Kumar is one of the most improved and consistent spinners but he is yet to play for India.

He has 312 first-class wickets at an average of 24.59, aided by 25 five-wicket hauls and 8 ten fors in 72 games. Furthermore, his improved batting performances, as shown by his HR average of 26.34, make him a complete package and an ideal replacement for Ashwin.

Washington Sundar

Being a versatile candidate, Washington Sundar’s case is stronger than that of several other candidates. In fact, he is the only solid and comparable replacement for Ashwin at the moment.

He has appeared in seven Tests for India, taking 24 wickets at 23.91 runs each, but his batting average of 48.37 with three fifties is impressive. Sundar has all the skills to become a consistent bowler and a solid batsman in the lower order, as he showed in the New Zealand series at home.

Manav Suthar

Manav Suthar has made great strides in the field of red ball in recent days. His superior skills always show every time he plays and he has shown the qualities to be a consistent wicket-taker at the highest level.

In total, he has 75 wickets at an average of 25.28, including four five-wicket hauls and two ten-wicket hauls. While there are several players ahead of him in the pecking order, Manav is slowly rising and will make a strong case when Ashwin retires.

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